Two-Fisted Science

Rating:
Summary: Listen in to some our greatest oddball minds . . .
Review: All the stories in this collection of "graphic fiction" were written by Ottaviani, but the artwork was supplied by ten artists, including Bernie Mireault and Scott Saavedra. The stories are based on real events (reportedly real, anyway) about Einstein, Russell, Bohr, Heisenberg, and others - and especially Richard Feynman, who was not only one of 20th century physics's major minds but an amateur locksmith, talented musician, social philosopher, and world-class storyteller as well. Some, like "turtles all the way down," are smile-inducing classics, while others, like Heisenberg's approach to Bohr on behalf on the German nuclear effort in World War II are somber and reflective. Feynman's own recounting of his brief, tragic marriage during the Manhattan Project is especially affecting, and the tale of his safe-cracking activities at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge are a hoot. Oh, and you'll even learn some physics theory along the way, or at least get a taste of how physicists view the world. I hope another volume like this is in the works.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant idea, uninspired execution
Review: Comics like "Two-Fisted Science" serve nothing but a good purpose. They remind us that comics - like other art forms - can be about anything, and are not captives of the humor, fantasy and adventure genres.

A science-themed comic is especially appropriate, as the art-text combination inherent to comics would seem perfect for conveying complex/cosmic ideas. This collection features some terrific artists - notably Bernie Mireault, David Lasky, Colleen Doran and Sean Bieri - but I was a bit disappointed in the writing. Ottaviani's stories so intent on being unorthodox and different that they instead become meandering and confusing. Oftentimes I was unsure of what exactly was at stake for each story and why we should care about what was being told. And I would expect to actually learn more about SCIENCE in such a book. Also, the organization of the book into seemingly random sections, and the clumsy, unimaginative publication design diminished the effect.

I give the book high marks for effort, nice artwork, and the especially interesting portraits of Richard Feynman, but overall I'd rate "Two-Fisted Science" a noble failure.

Rating:
Summary: Gee, I found this book particularly appropriate and helpful
Review: In response to a previous review ("Inappropriate and unhelpful"):

1. Swear words? What swear words? There are none in my copy.

2. I've seen this book in young adult and adult sections of libraries and bookstores. It's perfectly appropriate for both sections. And I've seen the author speak to an audience of kids about his books and they gobbled it up.

3. Comics are not required to be funny. Was "Maus" by Art Spiegelman funny?

4. It's easy to find something to be offended by in just about any book, but it's hard to see where the writing and art here are in any way inappropriate to the subject matter. Let's not forget that these stories are based on scientists' real lives. You think scientists are perfect human beings? That's part of what makes these stories interesting to read. They're fallible, like you and me.

Besides, while the book may not be funny, it's certainly a lot of fun to read because of the comics format. What better way to get your kids interested in science?

Rating:
Summary: science/history in graphic medium
Review: We have given this book to various friends who have enjoyed the hard science topics in the 'comic book' format. We also have given it to nieces and nephews, who may not realize that they are being exposed to science and history. We can chat with them about it later, to see how much they have absorbed and to encourage them to reread it (comics are fun after all).

Rating:
Summary: Inappropriate and unhelpful
Review: Written in cartoon format, I thought this book would be a lighter approach to a straight, dry, biography of scientists. However, it is written more like a series of political cartoons than cartoons for kids. The cartoons are barely understandable if the biography of the scientist is not already known, so using it as an initial reading is impossible. Further, some content is offensive. On the second page of cartoons, a scientist is walking along a bridge, thinking, when someone mistakenly believes he is getting ready to jump, saying, "No woman is worth committing suicide over." The pictures show a scantily-clad woman (with bare bottom in one frame) that he is now picturing in his mind. Irrelevant and inappropriate! Plus, I didn't have to go far to find swear words in the captions. Yikes! My kids will never see this book! It is not even appropriate for high-school age kids. (In fact, it isn't even funny to adults!)