Monkey vs. Robot & the Crystal of Power

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Summary: A minimalist approach to the graphic novel
Review: For those used to spending a tremendous amount of time reading through a given graphic novel due to the complexities of the text and artwork, James Kochalka offers a minimalist approach in Monkey vs. Robot & the Crystal of Power. The robots are gathering a number of items in nature to analyze in their computer, which ultimately results in the destruction or death of the item (i.e. a flower). When a monkey is taken, he narrowly escapes, but not before being injured and simultaneously damaging part of the computer. As the robots seek to fix it, they discover that the only way it can repair itself is through a crystal, which in turn, is honored by the monkeys. Let the monumental struggle begin! Technology vs. nature, survival of the fittest, the old quote from the English Romantics, "We murder to dissect."

Even though it is a quick read, I encourage you to read through it a number of times and enjoy Kochalka's work and its thought provoking story. Fans of Nicholson Baker's concise approach to fiction would enjoy Kochalka and the issues he explores.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first...
Review: I was so disappointed with the monkies talking in this book! I don't know what but this one little detail made is so much less realistic. The same themes are present in this book as in the last and it did make me smile, and left me thinking (until i fell asleep) but quite honestly this book did not live up to the first. I bought this at a used book store for quite cheap and I am happy I read the sequel to MvR, but overall it was a little disappointing.

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Summary: I WANTED to love it, but.......
Review: Mr. Kochalka is a wonderful guy who has done some fun stuff, but....this was a disappointment, to say the least. Monkey vs. Robot is the concept of a lifetime, for an artist, because it's the whole basic yin/yang thing. Yin is yielding, Yang is firm, the two both interact to create everything, etc. etc. Monkeys are yin, Robots, yang. There is yin within the yang and vice versa. The two forces can clash, but also depend on each other in another way. What is just as, if not more important is how the concept is USED. The author is known for his thing for video games, and well, sadly, it shows in this. Although I don't play them, I DO understand that video games have their place, and I have nothing against them. The problem is, that they just don't usually translate well into another medium, at least I didn't feel that they did here. I read the page, but didn't FEEL anything. Maybe that's why most video game-movies are horrible. Unlike some of Mr. Kochalka's OTHER comics, this one just didn't leave any shrapnel in me like his good ones did. ah well.