Blue Exorcist, Vol. 19

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 19. 2016. 186p. ISBN 9781421593333. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following the discovery of Section 13 in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 18, Lewin Lightning and his apprentice Bon pursue a separate investigation into the secretive Section 13 and its connection to the devastating "Blue Night" event that happened 16 years ago. Lightning's relentless pursuit of the truth leads him and Bon into the depths of the academy, where they discover hidden chambers and long-forgotten secrets. These revelations expose a dark history and unveil the true extent of the demonic influence plaguing the world, hinting at a looming catastrophe that could plunge humanity into an abyss of darkness.

Meanwhile, Mephisto Pheles, the academy's seemingly benevolent chairman, manipulates events from behind the scenes, releasing his powerful brother Amaimon, the King of Earth, to sow discord and advance his own mysterious objectives. This act throws the academy into disarray, forcing the students to confront increasingly dangerous demonic threats while grappling with the unsettling realization that their supposed ally may be their greatest adversary.

Finally, Shuri announces she will not take the cram exam, and she tells her friends she will be hosting a Christmas party to celebrate the end of their semester and everyone is assigned a task!

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 20.

Naruto, Vol. 25: Brothers

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 25: Brothers. 2011. 192p. ISBN 9781421544816. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Having caught up with Sasuke in Naruto, Vol. 24, Naruto confronts his best friend in a fierce battle. Sasuke, driven by a desire for power to avenge his clan, remembers the past to understand how his older brother Itachi became the formidable ninja he is today. This exploration reveals the dark secrets that surround his parents' murders, a tragic event that shaped Sasuke's life and ultimately led to the destruction of their clan. Sasuke also explores why his father seemingly rejected him in favor of his older brother, and felt he could never measure up.

As Naruto fights Sasuke in a fierce battle, he grapples with the devastating realization that his close friendship with Sasuke may ultimately lead to his downfall, as Sasuke reveals that he must kill his best friend to acquire the power he seeks. As the two of them battle at the waterfall, who will come out triumphant, and at what cost?

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 26.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Vol. 11: Double Down

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Vol. 11: Double Down. 2016. 224p. ISBN 9781419725456. Available at FIC KIN on the library shelves.

Greg Heffley is feeling the squeeze from his mom, who is determined to get him to explore interests beyond his beloved video games. She's pushing him to find some other talent or hobby. When Greg stumbles upon an old video camera in the basement, a lightbulb goes off. He thinks making movies could be his ticket to proving he's got serious skills, and maybe even become famous and rich while he's at it.

Enlisting his trusty sidekick, Rowley, Greg dives headfirst into a plan to create a scary movie masterpiece. They start filming, dreaming of the fame and fortune that surely await them. However, the question lingers: is Greg's all-in approach to filmmaking a stroke of genius that will finally impress his mom and the world? Or is this ambitious project just going to create a whole new set of hilarious and likely disastrous problems for him?

Naruto, Vol. 24: Unorthodox

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 24: Unorthodox. 2011. 192p. ISBN 9781421544816. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

All of the combats in Naruto, Vol. 23 reached their climax as Naruto and his friends were either forced to withdraw after suffering injuries, or found themselves in a deadly stalemate. When the Sound Ninjas tap deep in their chakra reserve, the chunins from Kohona are utterly spent. But as each of the remaining Sound Ninja seek to deliver a death blow, Naruto is joined first by Rock Lee, who survived his operation, and by the Sand Ninjas. Kankuro, Temari and Gaara join each of the fights, altering the balance in their favor.

Gaara and Rock Lee takes on Kimimaro, allowing Naruto to chase a now awakened Sasuke. Orichimaru still needs Sasuke to reach him, so he can take over his body. Shikamaru and Temari stop Tayuya's flute playing and destroy part of the forest when they take her out. Kankuro help Kiba and his dog Akamaru against the twice entity Sakon and Ukon. These deadly battles leave a trail of destruction in their wake.

Naruto finally catches up to Sasuke. Can he bring him back to Sakura as he promised? 

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 25.

Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 4: Hellboy in Hell

Mignola, Mike. Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 4: Hellboy in Hell. 2018. 286p. ISBN 9781506707495. 

After being cast in Hell following his death in Hellboy Omnibus, Vol. 3: The Wild Hunt, Hellboy finds himself back home, so to speak. But the denizens of Hell are still reeling from the destruction that the recent conflict between the witches and the humans wrought. The Princes of Hell have all been slaughtered by their own captains, as legions disintegrated. Satan, who still dwells in Pandemonium, sleeps away until he is awakened by Hellboy, who kills him. Hellboy even has a family reunion of sorts, with his uncle and his brothers, all of whom end up dead. His half-sister attempts to kill him a second time, but she fails.

In the end, Satan's hold on Hell has been broken, and the world is reborn once more. Hellboy discovers that there is no one left that cares about his right hand, and, for the first time, finds himself at peace, and he returns to find a semblance of home. 

This volume concludes the Hellboy saga, revealing his origin story. Against all odds, Hellboy demonstrates that he is more human than many of us, as he makes fateful decision after decision, seeking not the easy path, but the righteous one. 

Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 7

Patterson, James and NaRae Lee. Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 7. 2013. 208p. ISBN 9780759529731. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

In Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol 6, Fang posted on his blog the locations of all of the Itex facilities the Flock had discovered as they were chased around the world. Blog readers congregate to all of these facilities and violently protest Itex's evil plans. As the German facility come under attack, Max and the flock escape, taking Itex's head scientist in the air with her. The scientist, who claimed to be Max's mother, refuses to cooperate, and Max drops her, but her conscience does not allow her to let the woman die, so she saves her in the end.

Max and the rest of the flock returns to the UInited States to stay with Dr. Martinez. They participate in a meeting with the US government which turns sour, and a bomb in their hotel room reminds them that they are still hunted. As a result, Dr. Martinez secures a position on a research vessel heading to the Antarctic. There, the scientists, who are all young, hope that Max and the rest of them can help them study climate change. 

Though life on the ship comes with challenges, especially as Fang and a young scientist named Brigid Dwyer seem to be hitting off, upsetting Max who has mixed feelings towards Fang. Total also has difficulty connecting with the onboard ship dog. But as the flock settles into a routine and learn new powers and new skills, a villain somewhere else in the world is setting up an auction to purchase the flock members ...

The story continues in Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 8.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 18

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 18. 2016. 186p. ISBN 9781421593333. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

When Rin and Yukio discovered Shura's past in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 17, they did everything they could to save her from a fate she has expected her whole life. But as she sinks into the lake, dragged by the demon snake Hachirotaro, Shura decides she wants to live. In tandem with Rin, Yukio, and Shima, Shura manage to defeat the demon, which feels straight in the arms of the Illuminati.

Back at True Cross Academy, Yukio wonders if he has feelings for Shura. Okumura and Rin likewise attempt to maneuver their emotions and feelings for the other as Amaimon, the evil demon brother of Sir Pheles, returns to school, having promised to behave.  Lightning pushes Bon deep into an investigation of the Illuminati, trying to locate more information on the secretive group. But these are secrets for a reason ...

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 19.

Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 6

Patterson, James and NaRae Lee. Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 6. 2012. 240p. ISBN 9780759529724. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Imprisoned at the school once again, Max's flock discovered that Angel had betrayed them in Maximum Ride, vol. 5. As they face execution at the hands of the mechanized Erasers, Angel reveals that she acted as a double agent and infiltrated Itex. She frees the flock, and they fly away after a brutal battle. Fang is not thrilled that Max allowed Ari to come with them. In the past, Ari has been their sworn enemy, and fought against them. But now saddled with an expiration date, Ari turns his coat and wishes to spend the little time that remains with friends, instead of with scientists.

The decision to let Ari come splits the flock in two. Gassy, Izzy and Fang head west to California, while Max, Nudge, Angel and Ari board a plane to England, hoping to take the battle directly to Itex headquarters. First, they need to track it down. However, while they are here, Max agrees to play tourists, and the flock spends time enjoying the sights in London, then Paris, before discovering that Itex's facility is in Germany.

On the West Coast, Izzy is desperate for Fang and Gassy to describe the scenery. Fang continues to post on his blog, warning people of Itex' plans for eliminating half of the human race. The messages are supportive, but when he receives a note from Max informing him of Itex's location in Germany, all three of them agree to rejoin Max, despite Ari's presence.

At the facility Max meets her mother, only to learn that she's mother only in sponsoring the program. Jeb and Dr. Martinez, whom Max met in Maximum Ride, vol. 1, are her real parents. Itex relentlessly pursues its program, and all of the remaining hybrids are to be eliminated, having been replaced by perfected models. Max thus finds herself in a competition with the newest Eraser model, with the loser being eliminated ...

The story continues in Maximum Ride, vol 7.

Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 3: The Wild Hunt

Mignola, Mike. Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 3: The Wild Hunt. 2018. 528p. ISBN 9781506706689. 

Having escaped dangers in Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 2: Strange Places, Hellboy returns to England just in time for witches to summon Hellboy's most powerful enemy yet, Nimue. Living in King Arthur's time, Nimue seduced Merlin and stole all of his secrets. These secrets drove her mad. Taking refuge among the witches, she was eventually betrayed by them before being slaughtered. Her remains were eventually buried in a secret place, but she's now been freed so she can lead an army of the downtrodden monsters against humans, spilling their blood throughout the world.

First, Hellboy has to confront Baba Yaga's champion, a man who cannot die until the Russian witch releases him. Hellboy survives this conflict as a much drained Baba Yaga must sink all of her reserve powers to bolster her champion, who fails in the end. 

Manipulated by some, guided by others, Hellboy reconnects with Alice, and learns that he is the first-born male descendent of King Arthur, making him the legitimate King of England. To defeat Nimue, he will need to claim his heritage, something Hellboy has been avoiding his whole life. His destiny is not to serve as the pawn of others but to hold on to his humanity. As the end of the world nears, Hellboy is humanity's only hope ...    

The story concludes in Hellboy Omnibus, Vol. 4: Hellboy in Hell.

Naruto, Vol. 23: Predicament

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 23: Predicament. 2011. 192p. ISBN 9781421544809. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following a chase that started in Naruto, Vol. 21 and continued in Naruto, Vol. 22, Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba have caught up with the two remaining Sound Ninja. Through clever strategy and jitsu, they steal the container with Sasuke inside from those ninjas, and they withdraw. Obviously, those two will not let their prize go, and the chase resumes, this time in the opposite direction. The arrival of Kimimaro, the fifth of the Sound Ninja, is heralded when she steals the container from Naruto. Faced with a three versus three situation, the Kohona ninjas split and each takes an enemy.

Shikamaru faces Tayuya, who controls chakra monsters with her flute. He delays and avoids her attacks until he figures out how she gives orders to those monsters using her instrument, and then deploys his shadow jitsu to take control. Shifting to second stage, she breaks off his hold, but by doing so falls into his trap, and finds herself face to face with him.

Kiba and his dog Akamaru confront Sakon, who hosts her brother inside her. They split up, and attack Kiba and his small dog, but Kiba uses his jitsu to combine with Akamaru into a large two-headed dog. The battle is uneven, however, as Kiba is outclassed, and Akamaru is severely injured attempting to save Kiba. With no other option, Kiba takes Akamaru and retreats down the river.

Naruto catches up with Kimimaro, who reveals Orichimaru's plan to achieve immortality by implanting his soul in Sasuke's body after destroying the boy's own soul. Only then can Orichimaru continue to live. Kimimaro pulls bones out of his body to create weapons, while Naruto summons an army of Doppelgängers. The battle for possession of Sasuke begins ...

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 24.

Middlewest: The Complete Tale

Young, Skottie. Illustrated by Jorge Corona, Jean-François Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos. Middlewest: The Complete Tale. 2021. 560p. ISBN 9781534324534.

Abel is a young boy who is grappling with anger issues. His mother left them when he was younger, and he finds it increasingly harder to experience his father's angry outbursts and his continual putdowns. Despite having a steady job, Abel's physically and emotionally abusive father, Dave, never seems to be pleased or happy with his son. When he gets caught for shoplifting, Abel faces the furious wrath of his father, who literally unleashes a storm.

Forced to flee his now destroyed home and neighborhood, Abel and his companion, a literal Fox, head into Middlewest, looking for his mother. Abel soon realizes he's infected with the same storm that has destroyed his father. Finding a cure becomes of immediate importance. Assisted by an old man, Abel makes his way to a traveling fair, where the man's sister, Maggie, possesses some of the ancient magical skills that may be able to help him. 

At the fair, Abel meets Bobby, a mechanic his age, and her robot Wrench. Welcomed into the fold, Abel learns new skills, but when Maggie finally attempts to discover the source of Abel's anger, she accidentally releases the storm inside him, and the fair is wrecked. With people hurt, Maggie banishes Abel from the fair. Ignoring Maggie's pleas, Bobby also departs the fair, hoping to find Abel before it's too late.

Caught by a network of criminals who brings kidnapped children to a farm where they handle exploding fruits, Abel is reunited with Bobby. At the fair, meanwhile, Maggie marshals her friends to launch an assault against the farm. And in the background, ever getting closer, is the storm that is Dave, hoping to find Abel and present his excuses. 

Throughout this journey, Abel experiences a perilous landscape, where he must confront his inner demons and the legacy of his father's violence. He learns about his family history and struggles to define his own identity, ultimately seeking to break free from the cycle of abuse that has plagued his family for generations.

Middlewest tackles important themes and may resonate with readers who have experienced similar struggles. Readers who like graphic novel will find the illustrations intriguing and will enjoy this action-packed story.

Bleach, Vol. 6: Death Overture Trilogy

Kubo, Tite. Bleach, Vol. 6: Death Overture Trilogy. 2005. 200p. ISBN 9781591167280. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.  

The battle between Quincy and Soul Reaper that started in Bleach, Vol. 5 continues as Ichigo and Ishida compete to see who can destroy the most Hollows. Quincys kill Hollows, while Soul Reapers free their soul and send them to the beyond. Unfortunately, Ishida's summoning worked too well, and now a flood of Hollows are concentrating above Karakura, and people are in real danger. 

During the battle, Ishida tells of his youth and learning from a Quincy master. He realizes that the teaching he learned was wrong, that Quincys were meant to work with Soul Reapers, not against them. At the same time, Orihime and Chad are faced with activating their latent powers and changing how they view the world forever.

Meanwhile, Rukia is in danger as a special unit of Soul Reapers have come to remove her from the body she inhabits as well as track the human who stole her powers. As Menos Grande, the largest Hollow both Ishida and Ichigo have ever seen threaten the entire town, Soul Reaper and Quincy will need to work together to save the world!

The story continues in Bleach, Vol. 7.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 17

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 17. 2016. 186p. ISBN 9781421593333. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Shura Kirigakure has trained Rin and his classmates to become official Exwires. Despite her unorthodox methods and her skimpy outfits, Shura is one of the True Cross' most effective demon slayers. But now she is missing. Fearing she is in danger, Mephistopheles sends Rin and his brother Yukio to Shura's hometown province of Aomori, in the north, to locate their instructor and bring her back. 

Rin thinks this is the perfect opportunity to talk with Yukio and figure out what is happening. In Blue Exorcist, Vol. 16, Yukio decided to put himself in harm's way to activate a latent power that dwells in him, but he has been unable to do so. He can't confess to Rin that he's worried he is slowly being possessed.

Their search in Aomori soon lead them to Shura, who has returned to the Dragon God, with whom she made a pact to deliver a child before her 30th birthday. Shura doesn't want kids, and she wants out of this arrangement, so she willingly allows the Dragon God to attack her, before being rescued by Rin and Yukio. She shares her story with them, explaining how she got here.

Returning to the temple, Rin and Yukio convince the Dragon God to let Shura go, but the Dragon God has a change of heart, and drags Shura with him to the depths of the lake. As she sinks to the bottom, Shura realizes she wants to live ...

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 18.

Naruto, Vol. 22: Comrades

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 22: Comrades. 2007. 192p. ISBN 9781421518589. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Naruto and the rest of his team continue chasing the Sound ninjas who are transporting Sasuke. Choji was left behind in Naruto, Vol. 21, and the four remaining ninjas from Kohona are relentlessly tracking their enemies through the forest. Catching up to the three remaining Sound ninjas, Naruto, Neji, Kiba and Shikaramu are stopped by Kidomaru, whose ability are those of a spider. Neji steps up and confronts Kidomaru, while Naruto and his two friends continue the pursuit.

Using his chakra control, Neji is able to block most of Kidomaru's attempts, but a small blind spot almost causes his downfall. Fortunately, Neji devises a strategy. He takes a massive hit, but in turn takes enough control of Kidomaru's chakra to remove him as a thread.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru can no longer wait for Sasuke to arrive. The evil mastermind is forced to move to plan B to assure his own survival ...

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 23: Predicament.

Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 2: Strange Places

Mignola, Mike. Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 2: Strange Places. 2018. 416p. ISBN 9781506706672. 

Hellboy, a half-demon living in a world that fears him, continues to struggle with his destiny as a harbinger of the apocalypse. Several monsters have now told him that his hand is the key that will free the dragon from its prison deep in the abyss where it was banished. Despite his monstrous appearance, Hellboy yearns for acceptance and fights to protect humanity from those who wish to inflict evil or to destroy the world. 

Returning to England, Hellboy and Abe track down a demon that was released on purpose. When they confront that demon, Hellboy learns his true name, Anuug Un Rama. Hellboy returns to America where he inquires about Roger's progress in integrating in the human world. Hellboy rescued Roger, the homunculus in Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 1. Roger is in good enough shape to go on a mission, and the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense sends them both to an ancient Nazi site in Austria, where a rocket launched by the Third Reich is returning to Earth. There they face the evil Nazi doctor Herman von Klempt, who was there when the rocket was sent to space, and who is bringing back a worm so strong it will consume the entire Earth. Unfortunately for the Doctor, Roger uses his electrical conduit ability, and neutralizes the worm, and the Doctor is finally destroyed.

But Hellboy faces an identity crisis. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense equipped Roger with a bomb, so that Hellboy could destroy him if he started causing problems. Questioning the morality of that decision, Hellboy turns in his resignation and heads to Africa, where he encounters a mystic that guides him through encounters with dark forces, so that he can discover himself ...

The story continues in Hellboy, Omnibus 3: The Wild Hunt.

Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 5

Patterson, James and NaRae Lee. Maximum Ride, the Manga, Vol. 5. 2011. 240p. ISBN 9780759529700. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

The battle between the two Max that started in Maximum Ride, Vol. 4 ends with a decisive victory for the real Max, and she leads the flock away after Gassy and Iggy's bomb explodes and partially destroy the facility. Back on the run, Max and the rest find themselves in the forest. ITEX leadership activates their plan to halve the world's population, and the flock's termination is ordered, much to Jeb's chagrin. 

Traveling west, the flock reveals itself at a public event, confirming the rumors that have been circulating. The absence of Erasers is puzzling, however. Fissures emerge between Fang and Max, as Fang declares his need for a real home, instead of always running away. Max agrees to fly with  Fang to Ella, whom she met earlier, to see if the tracker can be removed from her arm. This should slow ITEX down.

Meanwhile, the rest of the flock is attacked by mechanical Erasers, and they are captured and reunited with Jeb. Angel seems to have a change of heart, and now wishes harm on her siblings. Max and Fang are also captured, and Jeb reveals they have been slated for destruction ...

The story continues in Maximum Rive, the Manga, Vol. 6.

Fake Blood

Gardner, Whitney. Fake Blood. 2018. 332p. ISBN 9781481495561. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

AJ can't wait to grow up. Over the summer, his best friends Hunter and Ivy had amazing experiences and got taller, but AJ still looks the same and didn't do anything special. Another thing that hasn't changed is his crush for Nia. But he might as well not exist, as she barely notices him even though they're in many classes together at Spoons Middle School. Even if she did notice him, however, what could he offer her, a fan of vampires?

Fate intervenes when their new teacher, an elegant man from England, pairs them to work on a group project. They select Transylvania, which prompts AJ to come up with an amazing plan. He will pretend to be a vampire, so that Nia will find him attractive. Unfortunately for him, his plan works too well. Not only is Nia suddenly attracted to him, but it turns out she has ambitions to become a vampire slayer, and she begins hunting him.

But a real vampire is lurking in the shadows at Spoons Middle School. When his best friend Hunter goes missing, AJ must marshal his friends and the girl who wants to kill him to save Hunter from a gruesome death!

The illustrations are crisp, and the story is entertaining. Anyone who has ever tried to attract some unrequited love will relate to AJ's experience and will appreciate his efforts, even if they are misplaced. Fans of graphic novels will enjoy this middle school tale!

Naruto, Vol. 21: Pursuit

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 21: Pursuit. 2007. 216p. ISBN 9781421518558. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Determined to pursue his brother and avenge himself, Sasuke tried to leave Kohona to rejoin Orichimaru's elite squad, a group he encountered in Naruto, Vol. 20. His exit is interrupted by Sakura, who confronts him and declares her love for him. She even promises to follow him into battle if he will allow her to be with him. Sasuke knocks her unconscious and departs the village.

When his absence is discovered the following morning, Lady Tsunade has no choice but to send ninjas after him to bring him back. Unfortunately, all of the high level ninjas are already out on missions or defending the village, so she turns to Shikamaru, a newly minted chunin, to assemble a team to track and retrieve Sasuke. Shikamaru turns to Naruto, Kiba, Neji and Choji. Sakura and Lee both want to join the team, but Lee is still recovering from the recent battles, while Sakura has already failed, and therefore cannot join them.

Chasing Sasuke, Shikamaru's team soon encounters Orichimaru's elite ninjas, the Sound Ninjas, and while three of them carrying an inconscious Sasuke flee, one remains to challenge the team. One versus five is not a fair fight for Shikamaru and his team, who soon find themselves overwhelmed. Can Choji deploy his secret weapon and save them all?

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 22.

Batman: Dark Victory

Loeb, Jeph and Tim Sale, illustrator. Batman: Dark Victory. 2014. 392p. ISBN 9781401244019.

Bruce Wayne began his crimefighting career a year ago, working with Detective James Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to put a dent in the criminal underworld of Gotham City. But Falcone, the mob boss, destroyed Dent's face and his sanity when he threw acid in the District Attorney's face. Since then, the man that was Harvey Dent has become Two-Face, a criminal mastermind. 

A year later, a criminal known as the Holiday Killer has returned, and individuals connected to Harvey Dent are turning up dead. The suspicions fall on Dent as the killer, but Alfred Falcone, the real Holiday Killer and one of the sons of the former mob boss, is at Arkham Asylum. His sister Sofia Falcone is now crippled and in a wheelchair. On the anniversary of Dent's attack, the Asylum is assaulted by unknown criminals, and every psychotic individual in Gotham escapes. Vicious killers are back on the street, and Batman has his hands full, pursuing Dent while chasing villains like the Joker and Poison Ivy.

Sometimes helped by Catwoman, often hindered by her, Bruce Wayne descends deeper into the role of Batman and slowly loses his humanity as the Holiday Killer strikes once a month. Bruce adopts the orphan son of slain circus performers, and soon Dick Grayson joins him as Robin. As Gotham's villains fight the mob, the body count rises, dead cops are eliminated by the Holiday Killer, and Batman finds himself at a crossroads in his relationship with Dent. Can Batman solve the mystery of the Holiday Killer before the bloodbath spreads further?

Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction

Mignola, Mike. Hellboy Omnibus, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction. 2018. 368p. ISBN 9781506706665. 

Summoned through a dark Nazi ritual conducted by the evil wizard Rasputin in December 1944, Hellboy spent time being examined in a U.S. research facility before joining the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Now a veteran field investigator, Hellboy goes where dangerous mysteries strike others dead. Through many encounters with mythical creatures, Hellboy and his teammates discover that Rasputin's Ragna Rock conspiracy is alive and well, and that Nazi agents have survived to the 1980s and still seek to use Hellboy to open a portal to the Serpent, a mythical being banished and imprisoned long ago.

From a haunted castle in the United States to a Romanian village and a Scottish site, Hellboy confronts deadly frog humanoids, agents of Rasputin who obey his every order. Other creatures and mythical beings have their own agenda, but all agree that humans must be destroyed for a new world to emerge out of its ruins. Even slaying Rasputin does not remove the threat, as his spirit endures and recruits new servants to free the Serpent. Will Hellboy resist the call of his true nature when presented with the ultimate decision to learn his true origin? 

Fans of graphic novels and paranormal activities will appreciate the complex plot that plays over many chapters, and will cheer for Hellboy to triumph over evil.

The story continues in Hellboy, Omnibus Vol. 2: Strange Places.