2013 Comic Book Round-Up: The Best – Part 3

Welcome to Comic Bastards' yearly "Best of" list. We have so many contributors on the site now that we actually had to break the list up into parts this year. This is part one which will cover "Best Book of 2012 We’re Still Talking About", "Best Revival", "Best Movie/TV or Video Game Comic Adaptation" and "Best Comic Related Property Outside of Comic Books." You can find Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 by clicking on the previous links. Also be sure to check out this week's podcast to hear Kevin and Dustin read and have fun with everyone's list! Thanks for reading! (Hey Creators and Publishers! If you want a champ belt graphic contact us on Twitter or through the site and we'll make you one!)

Best Book of 2012 We’re Still Talking About

7 - Book From 2012 We're Still Talking About

James - Swamp Thing (DC Comics)

Yes, I am a poser, but Swamp Thing has always been my favorite. Scott Snyder breathed life back into this legendary title and now Charles Soule is building from it. It was the New 52 Swamp Thing that brought me back to comics, so I have a nice place for it in my heart still.

Jeff - Batman Inc. #1 (DC Comics)

Although anything by Grant Morrison is bound to flit across my brain every so often.

Dustin - Friends With Boys (First Second Books)

This was an easy pick for me. Friends With Boys is still one of my favorite books of all time and is definitely a book I haven’t stopped thinking about since last year. There were a ton of great graphic novels last year (more than this year in my opinion), but Faith Erin Hicks’ Friends With Boys stuck with me and became a book I could recommend to just about anyone.

Samantha - Friends With Boys (First Second Books)

I'll go with Dustin on this one. After his review, I picked this book up, and it told such a beautiful story. My hope is that we will see a second book.

Kevin - The Red Ten (ComixTribe)

If you haven’t picked up an issue of the series, you are truly missing out. There's a reason that Comic Bastards have been following this book from the get go. It rules the school.

Carl - Godzilla: Half Century War (IDW Publishing)

Great Godzilla book that hopeful foreshadows the movie in 2014.

Steve - The Manhattan Projects (Image Comics)

It made the list last year and it continues to be rock-solid awesome each issue.

Jordan - Hawkeye #1 (Marvel Comics)

The one that started it all and reintroduced fun back into the big 2.

Adam - Revival #1 (Image Comics)

I have the Image Firsts reprint of this to lend to friends who've never gave comics a fair shake.  That issue will always be one of my favorite in any comic.

Erik - Conan the Barbarian (Dark Horse Comics)

This is one of the few books that started in 2012 that’s still in my pull list. And now that the book will be taken over by Fred Van Lente in February, my excitement level will stay the same.

Best Revival

8 - Best Revival

Samantha - The Mask of the Red Panda (Monkeybrain Comics)

The writing is so fun to read, and the black and white art adds to that fun play of detective storytelling.

Steve - Quantum and Woody (Valiant Comics)

Admittedly, I never read the original, but now I never miss an issue of this! Hilarious, hyper writing with a great artistic direction.

Dustin - Quantum and Woody (Valiant Comics)

This was actually a difficult decision to make. I thought long and hard about everything that DC and Marvel have rebooted before ruling them all out. Really it came down to Valiant and Dark Horse, but Quantum and Woody edged out their reboots by an inch. This book is funny, its heartfelt and entertaining as shit. It’s also one of Valiant’s best titles period, so check it out if you haven’t and see why so many are happy to have the duo back in the world of comics.

Jordan - Quantum and Woody (Valiant Comics)

I just recently realized the Q&W was a revival, and while I'm not overly familiar with the originals, I do know that Quantum and Woody is one of the funniest and funniest books out there right now.

James - Quantum and Woody (Valiant Comics)

It’s fun, exciting, and a revision that really makes the characters relevant. I had never known anything about them until I started this one. It's an addictive run.

Erik - Brain Boy (Dark Horse Comics)

I love everything about this book. There's my man, Fred Van Lente writing it. That already puts it in my pull list. Also, the art by R.B. Silva is phenomenal. I'm definitely in for the long haul. I don't think that this series would have been able to impress the way that it has without this creative team. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been interested in this reboot if the circumstances were any different.

Adam - Deadworld: Restoration (IDW Publishing)

I was almost negative 10 years old when the original series started in 1986, but I was totally blown away by the first issue of Restoration.  So much so that I'm reading through crappy scans of the old issues and am trying to get my hands on the back issues of the newer series since they're split up into different volumes.  I'm a huge fan of underappreciated and overlooked works in any medium really, so the fact that this was doing things that The Walking Dead rips off almost twenty years earlier is incredible to me.  I can't wait to see how this goes, definitely one of the most original ideas I've ever encountered in the zombie genre.

Best Movie/TV or Video Game Comic Adaptation

9 - Best Movie - TV or Video Game Comic Adapation

Adam - The Last of Us - American Dreams (Dark Horse Comics)

I love that this story spanned across two of my favorite entertainment mediums and excelled in both.  The Last of Us sums up everything I love about video games, and the comic did a great job of telling a prequel to the game.  I believe that story with Riley is actually going to be fleshed out in the DLC which should be cool.  Shout out to Dustin for getting quoted in the back, I went in the comic store to pick up the book that week and was like "Yo I write for that guy, peep our dual review of Revival #14 on Comic Bastards if you know what's good for you!" (I don't actually talk like that)

Dustin - The Last of Us – American Dreams (Dark Horse Comics)              

90% of the time comic books based off of video games suck. They suck a lot. I think Dark Horse knew this and so when they took on creating a story that took place before the events of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us they decided to get a top talent on the book; enter Faith Erin Hicks. She not only delivered a great story with fantastic art, but she got you hyped for the game in a good way. If the comic could be so good how could the game suck? Well I think a lot of people will tell you that the game didn’t suck. This was a great video game adaptation and hopefully other publishers and creators will use it as a guideline on how to do it correctly.

James - The Last of Us – American Dreams (Dark Horse Comics)

Pure and simple, this one kicked ass. Super good.

Jordan - The Last of Us – American Dreams (Dark Horse Comics)              

The rest of the Bastards say it all.

Kevin – The Art of BioShock Infinite (Dark Horse Comics)

I love anything with Bioshock related. Fucking gorgeous.

Steve - The Star Wars (Dark Horse Comics)

Don't read much of these; heard Last of Us and Django were pretty great, but of the ones I've seen, this is the most interesting and well done, both conceptually and artistically. If nothing else, a great "elseworlds" style book.

Best Comic Related Property Outside of Comic Books

10 - Best Comic Related Property Outside of Comics

Erik - Batkid

It showed me that some people do still care. And how awesome did that kid look in the Batsuit?

Jeff - DC Animated Shorts/Features (Cartoon Network/WB)

More stylish and daring than any of the DC shows they seem to love canceling, makes you wish they'd give up the TV show structure all together and just produce a grab bag of longer versions of their animated shorts.

Steve - DC Animated Shorts/Features (Cartoon Network/WB)

Flashpoint and DKR were pretty great, but the little shorts over on their site, like the one featuring Shade: The Changing Man were AMAZING!

Carl - DC Animated Shorts/Features (Cartoon Network/WB)

I'm siding with Jeff and Steve on this one.

James - Avatar: The Legend of Korra - Book 2 Spirits (Nickelodeon)

This thing started way slow, but beginning with the origin episodes "Beginnings", it got serious and I put the finale up there as a classic.

Samantha – TMNT: The Animated Series (Nickelodeon)

So much fun, and brings the Turtles back with a bang.

Jordan - Arrow - Season 2 (CW)

The CW managed to shatter their melodramatic and airbrushed shackles and deliver what is truly a groundbreaking comic book television show. Featuring good action, nice handling of lore and more DC roster appearances and shout-outs than you can shake a bow at.

Adam - Progression of the CBMFP (Comic Bastards)

The wiener jokes are getting more sparse, keep up the good work guys!  But seriously, I love listening to it every week and it's gotten more and more professional while still feeling like you're just chilling at your friends' house talking comics.  I'm saying that as a fan before a contributor to the site, year of the CBMFP!

Kevin - Fables: The Wolf Among Us (TellTale Games)

Engrossing gameplay that brings the world to life.

Dustin - Fables: The Wolf Among Us (TellTale Games)

This was a harder category than I ever imagined this year, but ultimately I went with the only thing that didn't disappoint the hell out of me. This was a fantastic game even if it was only one chapter. The storytelling was great and interacting with the story and affecting the outcome was even better. It's a must play for any fan of Fables or just anyone that enjoys a great story that they can interact with. -- Keep going with our "Best of 2013" list by checking out Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4! Thanks for reading and please leave us a comment below!

2013 Comic Book Round-Up: The Best – Part 2

Welcome to Comic Bastards' yearly "Best of" list. We have so many contributors on the site now that we actually had to break the list up into parts this year. This is part one which will cover "Best Indie Book", "Best Original Graphic Novel, Trade or Reprint" and "Best All-Ages Title." You can find Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4 by clicking on the previous links. Also be sure to check out this week's podcast to hear Kevin and Dustin read and have fun with everyone's list! Thanks for reading! (Hey Creators and Publishers! If you want a champ belt graphic contact us on Twitter or through the site and we'll make you one!)

Best Indie Book

4 - Best Indie Book

Kevin - Man-Gull (website)

This is the most insanely awesome thing I've ever read. This is the reason we need comics.

Erik - Delia Awesome (website)

Because I wish that I had come up with it. That’s why.

Jeff - Black River (website)

By Jesse H. Mead, slacker fantasy comedy done right.

Adam - The Dead (website)

One of the most generic book names ended up being incredibly refreshing to read for me.

Dustin - The Horror Show (website)

I’ve read a ton of indies this year and a lot of them were really good. I wish I could list them all here, but this book in particular has stood out to me all year-long. The story is short and sweet, but the payoff is so damn incredible that it blew my mind. If you haven’t yet, you should read it.

Steve – Pulp (website)

The greatest thing about this book is how simple it seems, but by the end, how complex it suddenly becomes. Great, meticulous writing coupled with a visual style that strains to restrain itself.

Samantha - Murder She Writes (website)

Such a great story revolving mystery and a young quirky girl leading through.

James - A Voice in the Dark

I really liked this "serial killer in the making tale" and to hear the story of its author, All I can say is wow! Top Cow and Image were hooked on it, and so am I.

Best Original Graphic Novel, Trade or Reprint

5 - OGN Trade or Reprint

Jordan - Hellboy: Midnight Circus (Dark Horse Comics)

Mike Mignola and his team gives us a wonderful peek into one fateful night in the life of one of the greatest dark heroes in comics.

James - Last Man Standing: Killbook of a Bounty Hunter (Dark Horse Comics)

I am not even sure what this one would even be considered to be. It's not really a story, but it is. It is like nothing I have ever encountered....And I loved it.

Adam - The Last of Us: American Dreams (Dark Horse Comics)

I'm also using this as my best video game adaptation category, but I just thought this was one of the best stories I'd read this year, and it read extremely well in trade format.

Kevin - The Trip (Danger Zone)

Action Lab Danger Zone's not so typical teen horror book that adds enough twist and grins to make it well worth the read.

Steve - Strange Attractors (Archaia Entertainment)

This is what first put Soule on my radar: a fantastic story about urban chaos magic and how it can shape and save cities.

Erik - Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born To Kill (DC Comics)

I'm kinda surprised that it took so long for this trade to come out. This was the best thing about The New 52. The relationship between Bruce and Damian was the only thing that kept me reading anything from the re-launch in the first place. Then we saw what they did with that.

Samantha - Boxers and Saints (First Second Books)

Has everything you want in a novel, great character build-up, cute pictures, tons of action, and tears for the light-hearted.

Dustin - Battling Boy (First Second Books)

This was a tough choice. Though I feel there weren’t as many good or great graphic novels this year, the ones that stood at as the best were something else. They were moving, funny and emotional, but Battling Boy was something else. It still had a three of those things, but it did something I haven’t seen done since Marvel’s Ultimate line of books… it changed the superhero genre. Battling Boy is one of the most incredible reads all year and there is literally only one other book that I can think of that compares and it will likely make its way on this list as well. If you haven’t read Battling Boy then you missed the most important work of 2013.

Best All-Ages Title

6 - Best All-Ages Title

Dustin - Dungeon Fun (DoGooder Comics)

I personally think this was a great year for all-ages titles and I mean true all-ages titles, not books that are specifically written for kids that adults happen to read as well. Dungeon Fun came out of nowhere and stole my heart. It made me laugh, it made me sad, but through it all it entertained me. It’s rare that I re-read something multiple times, but it’s even rarer for it to be a single issue of a comic rather than a graphic novel. I loved the first issue and can’t wait for more.

Kevin - Dungeon Fun (DoGooder Comics)

This took me by surprise and by listening to Dustin's coverage I had to read it. It did not disappoint.

James - Itty Bitty Hellboy (Dark Horse Comics)

This is the title that "cool" parents would give to their kids. I dodged Art Baltazar for so long, but because of IBH, I embrace him. Excellent use of making dark subject matter lighthearted and kid friendly.

Samantha - Monster on the Hill (Top Shelf Comix)

Loved this graphic novel. It has such a cute story line, and I mean come on it has monsters everywhere. What kids/adult would not like this?

Jordan  Samurai Jack      Jim Zub and Andy Suriano are pulling it off and deserve a round of applause.

Carl  - Peanuts (KaBoom)

Without Charlie Brown, there would be no good in this world.

Jeff - Bravest Warriors (KaBoom)

It may not be revolutionary but it's consistently entertaining and well crafted, a title with broad appeal.

Adam - Regular Show (KaBoom)

This is my favorite cartoon on TV, and the comic book is awesome.  This is one of those shows like Spongebob that just transcends age.  Sure, 6 year olds can watch it but there's stuff they'll miss out on that only older adolescents such as myself and adults can get.  I think all of us have had a friend or can relate to Mordecai or Rigby, and their chemistry is great to watch in the show and see in the comic.  Skips always has to save them from some weird supernatural occurrence brought on by their own ignorance and stupidity.  Don't look at our crotches while we synchronize our watches!

Erik - Regular Show (KaBoom)

I was always into superheroes when I was a kid, but coming from an adult's point of view, your kids will grow out of superheroes soon enough anyway. It is very sad, but true. Try to get your kids into something different right off the bat. Or read it yourself, whatever.

Steve - Scottie Young's 2013 Covers?

I really don't read all-ages titles, but his covers are pretty sweet. -- Keep going with our "Best of 2013" list by checking out Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4! Thanks for reading and please leave us a comment below!

2013 Comic Book Round-Up: The Best - Part 1

Welcome to Comic Bastards' yearly "Best of" list. We have so many contributors on the site now that we actually had to break the list up into parts this year. This is part one which will cover "Best issue of the Year", "Best Ongoing Series" and "Best Mini-Series." You can find Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 by clicking on the previous links. Also be sure to check out this week's podcast to hear Kevin and Dustin read and have fun with everyone's list! Thanks for reading! (Hey Creators and Publishers! If you want a champ belt graphic contact us on Twitter or through the site and we'll make you one!)

Best Issue of the Year

1 - Best Issue of the Year

Dustin - Saga #14 (Image Comics)

Last year this category gave me a lot of trouble, but this year there really were only a handful of single issues that stood out. Mind MGMT, Revival, Harbinger, Private Eye and several indie books are all right near the top of my list with standout issues. Issues that are incredible achievements in medium, but then there’s issue fourteen of Saga… what can I possibly add to how powerful and moving this issue was? How can I possibly do justice to Lying Cats simple and yet powerful dialog? How can I top one word that manages to melt hearts and bring forth tears from practically everyone that read it? You can’t. I would love to give this to an indie book, but this issue of Saga wins. I will give an honorable mention to Unfair which was also tremendously moving and was my second pick for the category.

Jeff - Saga #14 (Image Comics)

And even more specifically a single page of Saga #14 which was one of the most beautiful moments I've experienced in my history with comics, involving a conversation between the former child sex slave Sophie and fan-favorite feline Lying Cat. Everybody I know who reads the book describes their reaction the same way, fighting back the well of tears that springs from this singular piece of comic writing.

Jordan - Saga #17 (Image Comics)

It just came out, but issue #17 represents intense storytelling that plays out like comics own version of Breaking Bad’s "Ozymandias"

Kevin - Dead Body Road #1 (Image Comics)

It got me really excited for the series. Must have more! When an idea of revenge is done well there's nothing like! Get'em!

Samantha - Ehmm Theory #3 (Danger Zone)

I can't stop thinking about how much I fell for this comic. It has a kick ass talking cat, just a great introduction to characters, big reveals, and of course slammin' art making all the events come to life.

Carl - Goon #44 (Dark Horse Comics)

This is a musical comic set in Mexico featuring heroes smuggling booze and a lizard monster that loves women and chickens.  Top that shit.  No, you can't.

Erik - The Massive #17 (Dark Horse Comics)

We’re finally seeing the morale of Ninth Wave crumble and Callum Israel’s resolve falter. The reason that this depressing fact is such a good thing, is because it is probably a precursor to one of the best arcs of all time.

Steve - Green Lantern #20 (DC Comics)

Maybe not the "best," but for me, the most memorable issue this year: a solid, emotive wrap-up with a bunch of stuff you've been dying to see in the modern GL mythos.

James - Harley Quinn #0 (DC Comics)

I read tons of other stuff that was deeper, more meaningful, and way more mind-blowing. But, I don't think I read anything all year that was as "fun" to read as this one. Seeing HQ depicted in so many ways and interacting with the staff was… well... fun. May be a wasted vote, but I thought it was fun, so that is the reason it was my best.

Adam - Coffin Hill #2 (Vertigo Comics)

This book just has everything that I love about comics wrapped into one.  I can't wait for more of this story to unfold.

Best Ongoing Series

2 - Best Ongoing Series

Steve – Mind MGMT (Dark Horse Comics)

This is the series you should recommend to those people who don't normally read comic books. In each issue, Kindt shows the versatility and range of comics as its own unique medium.

Dustin - Mind MGMT (Dark Horse Comics)

Mind MGMT is always the hardest category for me. If you’ve read any of my Top Five picks this year then you know that Mind MGMT always bounces around near or on the top. After going through my picks though Mind MGMT was a standout choice for me. What other series has given me as much joy, interest and fucked with my mind as this series has? There isn’t any. By far Mind MGMT manages to cram so much content into each issue that it forces you to pay attention and study every page; and as much content as it gives you on the cover, in the gutters, the pre-story, the post-story and just the main story… it’s still not enough. You want more with each issue. You need more. That’s why it ended up being more choice for best ongoing because there isn’t a month that goes by that I don’t need this series.

James – TMNT (IDW Publishing)

This is some good stuff. Started reading at the tail end of the "City Fall" arc and was hooked. Had to catch up with everything and was real impressed. It is fresh and informed. The Turtles have only gotten better with age.

Erik – TMNT (IDW Publishing)

This series continues to deliver month after month. I never had to worry about whether or not it would be worth keeping in my pull list. That is enough to make it my favorite ongoing series.

Adam – Revival (Image Comics)

I'm so invested into this series it's not even funny.  Literally with real money too, I have a 9.8 CGC rated #1 and am in the process of getting every back issue I don't have.  The writing is so brilliant, this has my favorite cast of characters in any book and the concept behind everything is just incredible.  Watching this story unfold each month and slowly peeling the layers off the proverbial onion is my favorite to do with this series.  I like to think this book as a 'thinking man's (or woman's) comic,' much like Mind MGMT (but probably not as mind-bending as that one is).

Samantha – Fatale (Image Comics)

By far, my favorite comic out right now; I love the jumping of time periods, and the seemingly never-ending troubles that Jo brings.

Jordan – Saga (Image Comics)

K. Vaughn and Staples have what is the most imaginative, beautiful synergetic and simply ingenious project on the market right now.

Jeff – Saga (Image Comics)

Brian K. Vaughan promises his series will be a long one and I look forward to taking that ride. Featuring a shifting fantasy landscape that skips between the beautiful and the ridiculous, Vaughn's series about parenthood and pacifism strikes a beautiful balance, entertaining, thoughtful, and incredibly human.

Kevin - All New X-Men (Marvel Comics)

I'm all aboard the X-Man train.

Best Mini-Series

3 - Best Mini-Series

Adam – Hit (Boom Studios)

When Dustin said that the writer of this book was a fan of the site, I hoped for his sake I'd like it, but either way I wasn't going to sugarcoat anything.  I ended up loving it.  I really enjoyed a few other miniseries, my second favorite being Buzzkill, but I have to go Hit for this one.

Samantha - Next Testament (Boom Studios)

Beautiful and rich art to accompany a great story revolving around this evil God and the blood he will spill in order to gain the people's faith.

Erik – Polarity (Boom Studios)

I’m a sucker for great dialogue, and this book had a ton of it.

Kevin - The Legend of Luther Strode (Image Comics)

Tradd Moore and Justin Jordan create a comic book tag team that set the bar. It's very hard not to like this series or team. Classic stuff.

James - Five Ghosts (Image Comics)

This mini was so good that it got an ongoing, which has been equally as good. I’m hooked with my artifact hunter who has an extreme case of multiple personality disorder with five distinct literary characters working within him. Original and fun with the artwork blending into the writing as a perfect harmony.

Carl - Anything Lord Baltimore (Dark Horse Comics)

He had a couple of mini-series, and they were all top-notch.  The vampire hunter in post WWI deserves a movie adaptation directed by me.

Dustin - Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin (Dark Horse Comics)

To be honest I never saw myself picking a Star Wars title as my best mini, but when you get right down to it this was a great series. Vader is an iconic character and this series not only captured that, but added to it as well. From beginning to end you see just how bad-ass Vader is and that’s especially joyful for anyone that’s grown tired of the Star Wars franchise like me. This series reminded me why Star Wars was cool to begin with and peeled back the jaded layers of adulthood and made me feel like a kid again.

Steve - The Black Beetle: No Way Out (Dark Horse Comics)

I know this is now an ongoing, but at the time it was a mini. BB is the most fun, most gorgeous "super noir" book I've ever seen. (Honorable mentions: Infinity & Zero)

Jordan - The Private Eye (Panel Syndicate)

You can’t beat the imagination of Brian K. Vaughn. His 2076 sci-fi world is one you want to live in. Marcos Martin draws some of the most alive and flavorful stuff out there.

Jeff - The Private Eye (Panel Syndicate)

One of the best new pieces of speculative fiction I've read in a while, tackling the multifaceted issue of our culture of self-surveillance by imagining a culture that has attempted to eliminate it. -- Keep going with our "Best of 2013" list by checking out Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4! Thanks for reading and please leave us a comment below!

Episode 112: 2013 Comic Book Round-Up: Part 1 - The Good

Well here it is our big end of the year round-up. This is where Kevin and I sit down and go through our categories and tell you what we and the rest of the Comic Bastards contributors picked for their "Best" of 2013. If you're unfamiliar with our format we tend to do this a bit differently from most sites so don't look for us to hand out "Best Writer" or "Artist." Nope we do it the Comic Bastards way. Look for the update later this week for the written companion piece to go along with this. iTunes decided to take the holiday off which jacked up the schedule. At any rate, here's 2013 according to Comic Bastards. Believe in the CBMFP! The Good 2013

Rocketeer Cosplay... Nuff Said!

My source for these pics foolish put that it was a Betty Page inspired Rocketeer, but if you know anything about the history of the Rocketeer you know why that's redundant. See Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens based Cliff's love interest off of Betty Page with her permission. There's even photos of the two. Any ways, this cosplay is more of Betty wearing Cliff's gear. I've actually seen cosplayer "Riddle" in this before, but it was always just one photo and so I never featured it. Anyways enjoy.

Black Milk Is Rolling Out A Batman Line

Who wears this stuff!! Someone find a woman wearing this stuff in public please! All I see are their models and then other women trying to be professional models, but where is the regular consumer that I would assume is the back bone of this product? Do they exist? Fuck I don't even care any more. Sucks. bm-batman-1

bm-batman-3

bm-batman-4Source

 

Rufio Auditions For A Street Car Named Desire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQYw2n5At08 Here's another tidbit about me that you didn't know before coming into this article. I. Love. Hook. That's right. Love that fucking movie. I've watched it too many times in my life and I don't care that it's mostly terrible. Love it. This video made me laugh a lot, especially the curly-haired guy at the end of the table on the left. He cracked me up because his response seems very genuine.

Source

Take A Look A This Sailor Venus Figure!

She comes with the domino mask! Sign me up for two. Here's a tidbit about me that you didn't know coming into this article... Sailor Venus is my favorite Sailor Scout! I still like Luna better than Artemis, but I liked the fact that she was the only other one to have a cat. Good figure as usual, my one and only gripe is the knees. Maybe it's just the lighting, but I don't remember the other figures knee caps being so funky.