Customer Reviews

Bookhunter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

the thrilling world of espionage and intrigue, all in the oakland public library! jason creates a highly thunk out mystery (as always). Similar to the Bourne Identity series, but better.

Bookhunter is simply wonderful. Jason's art style is just right for the story he's telling. I only wish it were longer.

The main character is a special agent who only takes cases that involve books and libraries. He is like the old tv show "Dragnet" but for the literary world. His team is made up for a male scientist who is the stereotpical nerd and a quirky female scientist whose speciality is fingerprints. Similar to the current tv show "CSI" the Bookhunter and his staff hace a lab that is specifically for the investigation of book forgeries, fraud, and theft.

The plot is simple but humorous. The Bookhunter is called to the Oakland Public Library to investigate a theft of John Quincy Adams' bible. The bible was said to have been given to Adams by the Mendi tribe as a thanks for helping them with the Amistad trial. It is believed that the book in the display case is a forgery and that the authentic bible was stolen by a book dealer or seller. The team goes on a crazy chase to find the culprit and investigates using records of libary cards, old microfilm and the Dewey Decimal system.

This graphic novel is not deep or introspective but it is a alot of fun! I was able to finish it in one sitting and laughed most of the time. Though the Bookhunter is not a superhero, it is great to see how he uses his "super powers" (aka knowledge about libraries) to find the criminal. It is light-hearted and the perfect read for any libarian, library lover, or book enthusiast.

This is a gem that is unfortunately hidden behind inferior works crowding the bookstore shelves. I am a big fan of adventure/mystery/thrillers and would put this work above the James Patterson/Patricia Cromwell level. It is much better written with stronger plot development than those. I also really enjoyed the subtle intrinsic humor of library security taking on the job of solving a major crime.

The one weakness is actually a strength, to me. The logic behind the crime solving might be too much for readers who prefer formulaic plots. I personally thought this to be one of the book's biggest strengths.

I hope to see more from this author in this genre.

This really bettered my day.
Story about fictional Library Police, retrieving books stolen from library. It consists of two stories, first one is short and kinda interlude for main story. It`s great story, funny, John Woo style.
Second one, main story, is great thriller about stolen book, Bible from 19th century, with great deal of bookbinder terminology (which makes little confusion, but you get the idea so it`s not that bad) which gives it that CSI touch, grotesque of course.
Art is good, it fits great to the story, not choking it (which is great deal due to before mentioned bookbinder terminology).
This is great comic, funny, intelligent, good for your collection.

Jason Shiga, Bookhunter (Sparkplug, 2007)

This is just about everything a bibliophile could possibly want in an adventure comic-- mystery! Intrigue! Suspense! All of it centered around a library! A priceless book on tour has been stolen from the Oakland Public Library, and the library police (the bookhunters of the title) have to figure out the mystery before it's time for the book to move on to its next destination. Shiga knows all the tropes of the mystery novel, and how to use them intelligently (while always involved in gentle parody), and he does so here to great effect. This is really great stuff, highly recommended. (It can also be read for free on the publishers' website, which I can't reveal in an Amazon review--but a quick google search on title and author's name will turn it up pretty quickly.) ****