ShutterBox, Book Three: Entry Exam

Shutterbox #3

by Rosearik Rikki Simons (writer & co-artist), Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons (artist & co-writer)

While AJ works to distract Dane's minions, and keep them from erasing Megan's soul, Megan has fallen into a trance, writing journal after journal, and becoming more and more absorbed with the idea of becoming a living muse. This would be fine under normal circumstances, but Megan is delaying her vital mission. She must remove the Banshee from Lewis Carroll's Author Urn, or she will be doomed.

Thomas, the University's Disembodied President, takes the initiative and opens the urn, taking Megan down into a literal Wonderland. There they face the Banshee and fight to reclaim Megan's rightful place as the ShutterBox Exchange Student, the only living Muse at the University of the afterlife.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Comics Manga

192 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2011

About the author

Rosearik Rikki Simons is a voice actor, writer, and artist. He is most famous for being the voice of the robot in a dog suit, GIR from Invader ZIM. As an artist and writer he is known for science fantasy graphic novels such as Ranklechick and His Three Legged Cat, Super Information Hijinks: Reality Check!, and the unfinished six volume ShutterBox fantasy series, which he co-created with his wife, Tavisha-Wolfgarth-Simons. He is also a background painter in animation, most noted for his color design on Invader ZIM. The weekly web comic that he creates with Tavisha, called @Tavicat, can be read at www.tavicat.com

Reviews

[Chanté · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shutterbox Volume 3
Author: Rikki Simons & Tavisha
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Manga
Synopsis: This time we learned more about Megan’s connection to Merridiah, and why she is needed as a Shutterbox exchange student. After successfully capturing the Banshee, she earns the protection of Lahlii, an ancient being who merges with Megan to save her life. It is finally understood that AJ is a Peter Pan-like character in that he can never age and that he is the guardian of children who have died. Damien, in turn, is the keeper of untimely and sudden death.
Review: The panel style was easier to follow, I honestly think I was just getting used to the overlapping. The story just got weird and had non-linear plot lines that made little sense. For example, Megan being the mother of the Beebos was an odd and far out there plot point that was rushed and honestly just didn’t seem like it belonged. But now at least we know why Damien had it out for her from the beginning, as he felt he was betrayed by Megan in a past life.
Rating: ⁎⁎⁎

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in 75 Words or Less: Like the two previous volumes, Shutterbox, Vol. 3 was a delight. However, this volume was a little different. There was a darker tone that emerged that I was not exactly expecting. While the third volume definitely gets to the bottom of some the mysteries of the previous volumes, I wish that things had been a little more fleshed out. It seemed like around every corner was a new twist, but little explanation to said twist.

Final Verdict: Nice addition to the series. Not exactly my favorite, but it did answer quite a few lingering questions that I had.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the weird that was the start of this series...but the girl being the mother of a bunch of flying bunnies is just going a bit over the top.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so it took a strange turn with the Beebos but, hey, I'll go with it. I find myself willing AJ and Megan to be together. Guess we'll find out...

[Gregory K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refer to the first volume for my review of the series.