True Patriot: Heroes of the Great White North (True Patriot, #2)

True Patriot: Heroes of the Great White North, is - maybe not a sequel - but a continuation of True Patriot.

Considering that is has only been a few years since

graphic novels have been accepted as pieces of literature, it can be difficult both accepting them and properly understanding them. (Since The Watchmen was listed within the top 100 literary titles of all time in 2010).

I believe this book can be quite a challenge to critique. A graphic novel cannot be read in the same way as a novel is. Nor should it be assessed (or, unfortunately, judged) by the same criteria.

In the graphic novel 'formal' (out of a lack of a better term) storytelling is done through two blended mediums, both through writing and pictures. Often you will not see as much descriptive writing because - let's face it - we have pictures to literally 'draw-a-picture'. A graphic novel is meant to be savored; to allow both its subtle and 'in-your-face' aspects to be digested. A graphic novel should be rated on its story and its telling - its art, and its use of its art in its story telling. And, on a final note, of something that I see far too often on the Internet: The confused and misunderstanding of the difference between one's opinion vs. the actual job of a critic.

But taking all this into consideration, let's take a look at "True Patriot 2: Heroes of the Great White North". Like its predecessor, it is chalked full of cheesy, and at times even painful Canadiana, sometimes to the point of overkill. They both make me smile and laugh, and at other times cringe. (One of my absolute favourite cheese-lines has got to be "I'm Carnage du Fromage" from "Gull Girl vs. Ann Murray" by Fred Kennedy and Adam Gorham - not to mention seeing Ann Murray throw a beating on Gull Girl! LOL)

Really, this is best viewed as a collection of graphic vignettes. Fifteen loosely connected storylines (three of which are broken into more than one Act), making a collection of 18 shorts. Bear in mind, we are seeing the writings and art of over 30 collaborators here. (Although I think we could have done away with the "On Guard For Thee", Acts 1, 2, and 3, where J. Torres and Alexander Perkins attempt to draw all of these characters together into one 'shared' universe (or maybe I should say shared nation - Canada. Okay. We get it. They're Canadian!)

A few are little more than an introduction of new characters and (Canadian) Superheroes. A few begin filling what the first True Patriot book gave us as a tantalizing taste of. (Dominion Jack comes to mind).

The storyline are simple.

I actually like that.

A refreshing change from reading DC or Marvel comics/graphic novels, where you damn near need a Doctorate or Degree - such an encyclopedia background knowledge - nay LORE and mythos! - that these top two comic books ahve become nearly a niche market in their herculean sizes! (Isn't that interesting?!) I like this where you could just sit back, read the story and enjoy them for what they are. Period. It isn't a capitalistic salespitch to sell you more books. It is true craftsmanship.

The contents vary from the more darker and dystopian "Mask of Freedom" by Paul Rivoche, to the Hanna-Barbera-like superhero, The Grey Owl (one of my favourites!) With a wide range of art styles from Paul Rivoche's "Mask of Freedom" and Scott Kowalchuk's "The Farmer and Tractor", both of which reminds me of Jack Kirby's art - to J. Bone's "The Grey Owl vs. Bee-Dazzler", with its younger audience Hanna-Barbera-like feel, reminiscent of Space Ghost!

There are also a few settings not all will appreciate. "Pat" (by Tom Fowler) is set in Kingsmere, MacKenzie King Estate, which is right here in Ottawa (well, Gatineau actually), where I live. I've been to Kingsmere and have seen its ruined abbey as depicted in the story. Others have the Rideau Canal near the MacKenzie King Bridge ("Dominion Jack in Difference") to the all too often used Parliament Buildings as a backdrop in "On Guard for Thee, Act 3".

Ironically, this book makes me proud and embarrassed to be a Canadian. (nd maybe that's the beauty of being Canadian: We can laugh at ourselves. We don't take ourselves too seriously).

Unfortunately, I cannot rate this book with any amount of stars. I have to give it 4 maple leafs.