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Bill & Ted #4
Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book Archive
Spend some time with your old friends Bill and Ted in this totally resplendent, triumphant, stellar, non-heinous and most classically excellent comic collection.
The most non-non-non-NON-heinous Eisner Award-nominated series, Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book, has returned. Station! This archive edition contains Evan Dorkin's (Milk & Cheese, Beasts of Burden) entire 11-issue series run on Bill &Ted's Excellent Comic Book and the Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey adaptation completely remastered and collected in color. Experience the comic like never before with all-new bonus features, including original artwork, art commissions, alternate versions of previously published artwork, and behind-the-scenes process pieces from Evan Dorkin.
Remastered and collected in beautiful paperback format, Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book is better than ever. Originally published in 1991, this Eisner-nominated classic of modern comics sees our good friends Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan party in celebration of their nuptials, deal with jealous rivals, and even chase down Death himself. The collection includes Evan Dorkin's full 11 issue run on the series, the comic adaptation of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, a gallery of cover art, and fan letters from the original comic run, for a total of 368 non-heinous full color pages. Most excellent.
The most non-non-non-NON-heinous Eisner Award-nominated series, Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book, has returned. Station! This archive edition contains Evan Dorkin's (Milk & Cheese, Beasts of Burden) entire 11-issue series run on Bill &Ted's Excellent Comic Book and the Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey adaptation completely remastered and collected in color. Experience the comic like never before with all-new bonus features, including original artwork, art commissions, alternate versions of previously published artwork, and behind-the-scenes process pieces from Evan Dorkin.
Remastered and collected in beautiful paperback format, Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book is better than ever. Originally published in 1991, this Eisner-nominated classic of modern comics sees our good friends Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan party in celebration of their nuptials, deal with jealous rivals, and even chase down Death himself. The collection includes Evan Dorkin's full 11 issue run on the series, the comic adaptation of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, a gallery of cover art, and fan letters from the original comic run, for a total of 368 non-heinous full color pages. Most excellent.
368 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2020
14 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Evan Dorkin
276 books143 followersEvan Dorkin is an American comics artist and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 24, 2016
PARTY ON, DUDES!
I found Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book Archive to be a tasteful, sophisticated, deep, well-balanced, enriching read... NOT!! No worries, dudes, it was actually pretty awesome, though it took me a few issues to get into Bill & Ted’s innocent, fun-loving spirit: “Well, I say you’re a ding dong, dude!” “Ha! Good one, Bill!” “Pleasure, dude!” Well, I say how can you resist?
I’m probably the only reader of this fancy-schmancy BOOM! Studios hardcover collection of the entire 12-issue run of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book (originally published by Marvel in 1991-92; also included: an adaptation of the first movie) who is unfamiliar with the movies, so I have some catching up to do. The reason I picked up this book is writer/artist Evan Dorkin whose Dork! I have fond memories of, and as it turns out Dorkin still has a few silly jokes up his sleeve – a whole truckload of them, actually.
Far and away my favourite character in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book is Death... the Grim Reaper, that’s right. Not surprisingly he’s a bit of an old-school guy, torn between his age-old sense of duty and the brain-dead thrills Bill & Ted have to offer - to the point that poor Reaper gets fired, has to look for a new job to pay the bills, is humiliated in various hilarious ways... It may not sound like much, but it’s comedy gold in Dorkin’s capable hands.
The verdict? PARTY ON, DUDES! And be excellent to each other!
I found Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book Archive to be a tasteful, sophisticated, deep, well-balanced, enriching read... NOT!! No worries, dudes, it was actually pretty awesome, though it took me a few issues to get into Bill & Ted’s innocent, fun-loving spirit: “Well, I say you’re a ding dong, dude!” “Ha! Good one, Bill!” “Pleasure, dude!” Well, I say how can you resist?
I’m probably the only reader of this fancy-schmancy BOOM! Studios hardcover collection of the entire 12-issue run of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book (originally published by Marvel in 1991-92; also included: an adaptation of the first movie) who is unfamiliar with the movies, so I have some catching up to do. The reason I picked up this book is writer/artist Evan Dorkin whose Dork! I have fond memories of, and as it turns out Dorkin still has a few silly jokes up his sleeve – a whole truckload of them, actually.
Far and away my favourite character in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book is Death... the Grim Reaper, that’s right. Not surprisingly he’s a bit of an old-school guy, torn between his age-old sense of duty and the brain-dead thrills Bill & Ted have to offer - to the point that poor Reaper gets fired, has to look for a new job to pay the bills, is humiliated in various hilarious ways... It may not sound like much, but it’s comedy gold in Dorkin’s capable hands.
The verdict? PARTY ON, DUDES! And be excellent to each other!
October 1, 2018
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book is one the undiscovered gems of Evan Dorkin's back catalogue. Actually, “undiscovered” is probably not the right word since this Archive edition represents the second time the series has been reprinted, the first being the two volume black and white edition that Slave Labor put out years ago. Still, it doesn't get discussed much in fandom circles, or at least that's been my experience. Dorkin fans are usually all about Dork, the Eltingville Club, and Milk & Cheese. Those are all fine titles, to be sure, but early works like Bill & Ted--and even Pirate Corp$--are worth checking out as well.
The book kicks off with the Marvel adaptation of the second movie, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. Dorkin was working from the shooting script and was given no visual references, which explains his more traditional take on Death, for instance. To be fair, animating a robed skeleton would have been difficult for the effects technology of the time, especially on a comedy budget. I admit that I'm uncertain just how different the adaptation is from the movie because--confession time--I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen isolated scenes, caught here and there over the years, but that's it. In his introduction, Dorkin implies that there were a number of differences. What ended up on the screen was apparently markedly different from the script he was given. Still, the adaptation reads well, and definitely captures the spirit of the characters as I remember them from the first movie (that I saw a couple dozen times at least.) Small wonder that he was offered the continuing series.
The series itself continues directly from the second movie. Since the marriage to the princesses happened offscreen in the movie, issue one kicks off with a second wedding to renew their vows and throw a huge party to reintroduce the cast. As always, Dorkin's panels are worth studying in detail since all sorts of gags and references are tucked away in the corners. The references to various bands take me back to my young adulthood--I think the only comic book writer/artist who did more to influence my taste in music than Evan Dorkin would be Matt Howarth. Only Bill & Ted would be cool enough to have both Fishbone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers play their wedding.
As much fun as the book is, it seems to start running out of steam towards the last couple of issues. The stories become less inventive and more repetitious. Dorkin was struggling to meet deadlines--one issue was literally inked by committee in order to get it done quickly enough. Still, with news of the series’ cancelation in hand, he was able to pull out all the stops for an over-the-top finale.
The conventional wisdom is that, prior to the rise of Dark Horse at least, licensed titles suck. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book would seem to be an exception. Actually, I would argue that there are enough exceptions (Micronauts, G.I. Joe, Rom, Conan, etc.) to call the “rule” itself into question, but that's a rant for another time. As for this book, it's highly recommended!
The book kicks off with the Marvel adaptation of the second movie, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. Dorkin was working from the shooting script and was given no visual references, which explains his more traditional take on Death, for instance. To be fair, animating a robed skeleton would have been difficult for the effects technology of the time, especially on a comedy budget. I admit that I'm uncertain just how different the adaptation is from the movie because--confession time--I’ve never seen it. I’ve seen isolated scenes, caught here and there over the years, but that's it. In his introduction, Dorkin implies that there were a number of differences. What ended up on the screen was apparently markedly different from the script he was given. Still, the adaptation reads well, and definitely captures the spirit of the characters as I remember them from the first movie (that I saw a couple dozen times at least.) Small wonder that he was offered the continuing series.
The series itself continues directly from the second movie. Since the marriage to the princesses happened offscreen in the movie, issue one kicks off with a second wedding to renew their vows and throw a huge party to reintroduce the cast. As always, Dorkin's panels are worth studying in detail since all sorts of gags and references are tucked away in the corners. The references to various bands take me back to my young adulthood--I think the only comic book writer/artist who did more to influence my taste in music than Evan Dorkin would be Matt Howarth. Only Bill & Ted would be cool enough to have both Fishbone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers play their wedding.
As much fun as the book is, it seems to start running out of steam towards the last couple of issues. The stories become less inventive and more repetitious. Dorkin was struggling to meet deadlines--one issue was literally inked by committee in order to get it done quickly enough. Still, with news of the series’ cancelation in hand, he was able to pull out all the stops for an over-the-top finale.
The conventional wisdom is that, prior to the rise of Dark Horse at least, licensed titles suck. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book would seem to be an exception. Actually, I would argue that there are enough exceptions (Micronauts, G.I. Joe, Rom, Conan, etc.) to call the “rule” itself into question, but that's a rant for another time. As for this book, it's highly recommended!
December 27, 2017
I will definitely tell anyone who's willing to listen that Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book is one of my favorite series of all time, and I've had this collected edition on my Amazon Christmas list for the past two years (I had all the single issues, of course, so I wasn't in a rush). But thanks to a (likely) bemused-but-incredulous sister-in-law, I now have the genuine article, and have re-devoured these stories once again.
Bill & Ted is still overwhelmingly good, and this series is done with such detail and care that it's really sort of shocking -- even more so because Dorkin wrote and drew this on a monthly schedule, which honestly seems sort of an impossible feat. Like a PG-rated Tank Girl, Bill & Ted has jokes and bizarre asides crammed into seriously every corner, and each weird turn of events builds upon the last so that by series' end, you almost don't even blink at the sentient thumb-on-wheels talking to the squid that lives in his head, while the deranged personifications of Time sing drunkenly to each other from the center of existence, and a cosmic roller coaster built by aliens speeds through the titular characters' backyard. It's just insane and joyous, is what it is, and somehow Dorkin also fits in an entire issue devoted to Planet of the Apes, for no particular reason.
The reproduction quality could be a hell of a lot better, which is a bit of a bummer -- about half the reprinted issues are a little soft, and clearly the lettering got redone to make it legible (which also accounts for the Dorkin-created, Marvel-owned 'Fight Man' being renamed as 'Fight Dude' here, because lord knows the House of Ideas wouldn't want to lose track of their rights to the incredibly popular Fight Man). And the series does sort of drag on a little toward the end -- at a certain point it continues to get weirder, but not funnier, and I think even as a kid this is when I stopped buying single issues.
Still, fans of genuine honest-to-god humor comics, as well as absolutely top-notch cartooning, could do far worse than Bill & Ted. On the rare occasion when a creator gets plucked out of the indies and is allowed to go completely apeshit (ha ha) on licensed material, it's always worth paying attention, and Dorkin, given the chance to do so here, cartooned as hard as anyone on these ridiculous stories.
Bill & Ted is still overwhelmingly good, and this series is done with such detail and care that it's really sort of shocking -- even more so because Dorkin wrote and drew this on a monthly schedule, which honestly seems sort of an impossible feat. Like a PG-rated Tank Girl, Bill & Ted has jokes and bizarre asides crammed into seriously every corner, and each weird turn of events builds upon the last so that by series' end, you almost don't even blink at the sentient thumb-on-wheels talking to the squid that lives in his head, while the deranged personifications of Time sing drunkenly to each other from the center of existence, and a cosmic roller coaster built by aliens speeds through the titular characters' backyard. It's just insane and joyous, is what it is, and somehow Dorkin also fits in an entire issue devoted to Planet of the Apes, for no particular reason.
The reproduction quality could be a hell of a lot better, which is a bit of a bummer -- about half the reprinted issues are a little soft, and clearly the lettering got redone to make it legible (which also accounts for the Dorkin-created, Marvel-owned 'Fight Man' being renamed as 'Fight Dude' here, because lord knows the House of Ideas wouldn't want to lose track of their rights to the incredibly popular Fight Man). And the series does sort of drag on a little toward the end -- at a certain point it continues to get weirder, but not funnier, and I think even as a kid this is when I stopped buying single issues.
Still, fans of genuine honest-to-god humor comics, as well as absolutely top-notch cartooning, could do far worse than Bill & Ted. On the rare occasion when a creator gets plucked out of the indies and is allowed to go completely apeshit (ha ha) on licensed material, it's always worth paying attention, and Dorkin, given the chance to do so here, cartooned as hard as anyone on these ridiculous stories.
May 6, 2016
I recognize the inherent absurdity in proclaiming something titled Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book Archive to be objectively good (we'll save any discussions regarding whether anything can be definitively declared "good" for another time). However, the facts are the facts. This was not just a fun read but a deceptively clever one as well. Even in a Bill and Ted comic, writer and penciller Evan Dorkin is able to conjure up actual emotional depth. Don't believe me? Read the issue where Bill and Ted decide to go back in time and stop the assassination of their friend Abraham Lincoln only to discover that, tragically, history must play itself as it was meant to. What Death (the personification of Death, that is) does to attempt to show the boys that they did the right thing is genuinely touching and only the hardest-hearted won't be moved. Bill and Ted was an early '90s Marvel book that flew under the radar and got away with a lot as a result. I'm grateful the good people at Boom! Comics brought this book into existence, defying, I'm sure, all laws of probability.
Read
June 18, 2018Finally, we can all get hold of Evan Dorkin's much-talked-about Bill & Ted spin-off comic. Which...well, even in the world of licensed spin-offs, this is a bit of an oddity. For being the work of an auteur/miscreant who hasn't always worked well within the system, sure. But also for spinning off from a version of the original which never actually happened. As he explains in the intro, for the Bogus Journey adaptation which kicked off the comic, he was working from a shooting script, much of which never showed up on screen - and what did looked very different to what he envisaged. Most obviously, Death, who becomes a significant supporting character here, is rocking the classic skeleton look, as against the Seventh Seal whiteface of the film. And it really wouldn't have worked any other way - the sheer ridiculousness of his various attempts at alternate employment would fall apart were he just a seriously pale dude. Beyond which, does the comic hold up to its reputation? Well...intermittently. I'm not convinced Dorkin always manages the balancing act of not playing Bill and Ted as idiots, and it's nowhere near as laugh-out-loud funny as pure Dorkin productions like the mean-spirited Milk & Cheese or the even more mean-spirited Eltingville. But it does have a similar determination to pack each issue, and even each panel, with as much as it can possibly hold and then some, a willingness to pile daft idea on ridiculous notion and then watch them all come crashing down. The tragedy is, it gets better as it goes along, and some of the funniest stuff comes when the book is already doomed (I particularly enjoyed the issue where they try to save their bud Lincoln from the assassin's bullet).
February 6, 2016
Historically challenged “dimension-hopping ambassadors of rock” Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Ted “Theodore” Logan, hailing all the way from sunny San Dimas, California, are back! BOOM! Studios has just released a huge hardbound edition of Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book Archive which collects between its covers the single 72-page issue of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) and the Eisner Award-nominated, 11-issue comic book series Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book (1991-1992), both published by Marvel Comics. Remastered and in full, bright color that any '80s enthusiast would call bodacious, this release features both comic book titles plus a foreword and timeline from Evan Dorkin who wrote the screenplay adaptation and script, as well completing the pencils. In addition, there are several behind-the-scenes artist galleries, as well as the original letters' column. The dudes got the royal treatment with this release, and it was a “most triumphant” blast from the past.
It was just over 25 years ago that the American public was introduced to Bill and Ted in the cult classic, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), and I remember thoroughly enjoying it because the dialogue was infectious and the humor fun and silly...
Please read my full review at Fanboy Comics: http://www.fanboycomics.net/index.php...
It was just over 25 years ago that the American public was introduced to Bill and Ted in the cult classic, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), and I remember thoroughly enjoying it because the dialogue was infectious and the humor fun and silly...
Please read my full review at Fanboy Comics: http://www.fanboycomics.net/index.php...
September 25, 2021
A most excellent archive of rock-n-roll misadventures.
July 20, 2018
3.5 Stars
Sturgeon’s Law. 90% of comics are crap. But that 10% that are good justify the rest. I'm not entirely sure I agree with that sentiment--regardless this book. This book is a gem that was too weird to live long.
90s comics weren’t necessarily a No Man’s Land of quality as often held. It was certainly the Dark Ages and most is best left unspoken of—but there was a glimmer of light with Vertigo, Wildstorm, Hellboy etc. Unfortunately it wasn't a great time for independent comics as the Image Revolution sent the medium and industry on a path it would take decades to recover from. It was style over substance. Chord D over purple prose. And man--was the licensed work TERRIBLE. One of the "Against All Odds" exceptions was this Bill and Ted Comic.
Bill and Ted was referred to fondly by Joe Casey—it’s a very idiosyncratic comic and is much better than it deserves to be. Marvel hired an artist that was decidedly NOT house style. They basically hired an indie comic to do whatever he wanted on a licensed work. Sometimes this ends up like 1941 by Rick Veitch and Steve Bissette or Bill Siekevictz on Dune.
What's great about this run, is that it's pure and classical cartooning. Like Kyle Baker did on Plastic Man or Calvin and Hobbes and borders close to the manic feeling of Tank Girl. Remember this an adaptation of a PG film.
ill definitely tell anyone who's willing to listen that Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book is one of my favorite series of all time, and I've had this collected edition on my Amazon Christmas list for the past two years (I had all the single issues, of course, so I wasn't in a rush). But thanks to a (likely) bemused-but-incredulous sister-in-law, I now have the genuine article, and have re-devoured these stories once again.
The reproduction values are oddly a bit iffy at times (this was an upgrade from the black and white print run a while back) yet still it's not as crisp as one would an expect an "Archive Edition" to be.
Sturgeon’s Law. 90% of comics are crap. But that 10% that are good justify the rest. I'm not entirely sure I agree with that sentiment--regardless this book. This book is a gem that was too weird to live long.
90s comics weren’t necessarily a No Man’s Land of quality as often held. It was certainly the Dark Ages and most is best left unspoken of—but there was a glimmer of light with Vertigo, Wildstorm, Hellboy etc. Unfortunately it wasn't a great time for independent comics as the Image Revolution sent the medium and industry on a path it would take decades to recover from. It was style over substance. Chord D over purple prose. And man--was the licensed work TERRIBLE. One of the "Against All Odds" exceptions was this Bill and Ted Comic.
Bill and Ted was referred to fondly by Joe Casey—it’s a very idiosyncratic comic and is much better than it deserves to be. Marvel hired an artist that was decidedly NOT house style. They basically hired an indie comic to do whatever he wanted on a licensed work. Sometimes this ends up like 1941 by Rick Veitch and Steve Bissette or Bill Siekevictz on Dune.
What's great about this run, is that it's pure and classical cartooning. Like Kyle Baker did on Plastic Man or Calvin and Hobbes and borders close to the manic feeling of Tank Girl. Remember this an adaptation of a PG film.
ill definitely tell anyone who's willing to listen that Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book is one of my favorite series of all time, and I've had this collected edition on my Amazon Christmas list for the past two years (I had all the single issues, of course, so I wasn't in a rush). But thanks to a (likely) bemused-but-incredulous sister-in-law, I now have the genuine article, and have re-devoured these stories once again.
The reproduction values are oddly a bit iffy at times (this was an upgrade from the black and white print run a while back) yet still it's not as crisp as one would an expect an "Archive Edition" to be.
February 3, 2018
The stories are what you expect but still disappointing - there is no growth by the leads, no new characters worth caring about, and no expansion of the universe the stories inhabit; just a collection of one note 'jokes' and panels cluttered by to much art and to many words.
April 3, 2021
Non-heinous collection that fans of the movie trilogy will best appreciate.
The volume begins with the comic book adaptation of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and continues with the short-lived comic book series. At first glance the art is obnoxious but, once you get used to the style, it clearly captures the fun chaotic vibe of the movies. Now that the movies are a trilogy, some things in the volume do not fit into the continuity, although this does not render the volume bogus. Of particular note, the Grim Reaper in the comic is portrayed as more of a skeleton.
If you are already a fan of the movies but have yet to experience the comics, I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a must-have for every fan of the films -- but it is worth checking out in case you decide it is most excellent for you.
The volume begins with the comic book adaptation of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and continues with the short-lived comic book series. At first glance the art is obnoxious but, once you get used to the style, it clearly captures the fun chaotic vibe of the movies. Now that the movies are a trilogy, some things in the volume do not fit into the continuity, although this does not render the volume bogus. Of particular note, the Grim Reaper in the comic is portrayed as more of a skeleton.
If you are already a fan of the movies but have yet to experience the comics, I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a must-have for every fan of the films -- but it is worth checking out in case you decide it is most excellent for you.
May 17, 2024
A barely OK read.
Mostly, the graphic novelization of the 2nd Bill & Ted movie was non-bogus (that means "excellent"). And that was mostly because the movie itself was pretty good.
The rest of the entries ... had some fun wordplay at times, and sarcastic cultural criticism. And silly situations. And far, far, far too many Bill & Ted-isms. I mean, even in the first page of any given story, you get inundated with '80s dude-talk. In. Un. Dated.
I couldn't finish the other stories. Even with the first post-movies story, the only way I could push through was to switch most of my brain to "Off" and let the dude-isms take control.
MPA ratings: PG for rude humor
Mostly, the graphic novelization of the 2nd Bill & Ted movie was non-bogus (that means "excellent"). And that was mostly because the movie itself was pretty good.
The rest of the entries ... had some fun wordplay at times, and sarcastic cultural criticism. And silly situations. And far, far, far too many Bill & Ted-isms. I mean, even in the first page of any given story, you get inundated with '80s dude-talk. In. Un. Dated.
I couldn't finish the other stories. Even with the first post-movies story, the only way I could push through was to switch most of my brain to "Off" and let the dude-isms take control.
MPA ratings: PG for rude humor
October 22, 2018
I loved these comics during the time they were originally published and love them now ... turns out Evan Dorkin was the perfect cartoonist to capture the look and feel of the two films (and adding Mirthful Marie Severin as inker was an inspired choice, with her professionalism smoothing and enhancing Dorkin’s pencils perfectly). Docked one star for the often shoddy reproduction, which looks to have been mostly taken straight out of the printed issues, with line dropouts and lettering woes intact. Disappointing. No one kept clean black and white line art or color seps at Marvel?
August 23, 2020
Aw geez, I’m a huge Bill and Ted fan and am eagerly awaiting the new movie next week, and I thought I’d see if there were soundtracks for the first two movies available on Hoopla (there are). I also discovered comic books! Who knew?!?
But I felt they were very tedious, to be honest. I ended up stopping about halfway through the collection. I didn’t care for the artwork or the storylines, and it just want worth it for me to go on.
But I felt they were very tedious, to be honest. I ended up stopping about halfway through the collection. I didn’t care for the artwork or the storylines, and it just want worth it for me to go on.
August 30, 2020
A most excellent take on the two great ones! This most non-heinous book is great for any fan of the movies! With great art and hilarious writing, this bodacious creation by Evan Dorkin makes sure you're having a most triumphant time!
March 24, 2022
AND DO YOU TAKE THESE DUDES TO BE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT HUSBANDS, TO LOVE, HANG WITH, AND COVER METAL SONGS, TIL DEATH DO YOU PART?
Excellent!
Excellent!
January 12, 2023
Excellent!! I found this book to be a very enjoyable continuation of bill and ted, if you're a Bill and Ted head like me, I'd recommend checking it out!
April 3, 2021
This is no comment on the (strong!) quality of this book but it took me an absurdly long time to read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews