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organizeinternet's review against another edition
3.0
I read this years ago, but remember thinking much of the dialogue clever and snappy, with so much innuendo I was impressed. Deserves another look someday!
scheu's review against another edition
3.0
I felt conflicted and meh about this book. It's cute, and I feel both sympathy for the protagonist and a crush on his lady love ... but I felt my brain cells dying while I read.
letsreadmorebooks's review against another edition
4.0
not normally my type of thing. but i really, really liked this. so maybe it's sorta my type of thing and i just didn't know it. actually maybe it's exactly my type of thing because it's got a great title and story to match and it's clever and witty and strange and fun.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
3.0
Flyboy Action Figure Comes with Gasmask is a slice of the lives of Flyboy, a shy college student, and his partner and romantic interest, Ms. Place, the waitress at the local diner. They bond over having bizarre superpowers and decide to use them to create a better world not by fighting crime, but by taking ethical stands on the issues they care about and creating publicity campaign to draw attention to that. I loved the idea of real life superheroes doing something that's not unrealistic and violent like beating up drug dealers and muggers every night, but rather something else that can change the world: political art and protest.
I enjoyed this book but liked it less than Angry Young Spaceman (the last book I read by Munroe) despite its superhero theme. I was more frustrated after finishing this book than I was after reading Angry Young Spaceman with Jim Munroe's tendency to just meander along in the lives of some people and then suddenly, something vaguely climactic but mostly out of nowhere happens about 20-30 pages from the end of the book, without any buildup, and without much explanation, and without any denouement afterward. It always feels really forced. In Angry Young Spaceman I didn't mind *too* much, and since I had otherwise enjoyed the book I didn't write the whole thing off for lacking any real conflict, but I guess I can't accept it with the same charity twice.
I can see how one could say, maybe, that Jim Munroe's books are designed to break the traditional cathartic plot structure of exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, denouement... and that this is done intentionally to more accurately simulate real life, where somethings things happen but they're usually unexpected, and nothing comes with a handy pyramid design to lead us through. I can see too how one may say that since through the entire book Munroe's characters are discussing and dealing with difficult social and ethical concepts, there is most definitely conflict. But still... something about seeing the *same* "alternate structure" twice feels less like deliberation and more like some kind of Rob Liefeld foot syndrome*. It also makes me feel like, I already know exactly what I'll be getting when/if I read the next book of his I was considering checking out.
This may not bother other readers - to be honest it only a *little* bothers me and I still think Jim Munroe's books are fantastically entertaining reads - but I thought it was worth a mention.
(For those not up w/ comic references: Rob Liefeld cannot draw feet, so he constantly hides the feet of his subjects in smoke, behind rocks, in standing water....)
I enjoyed this book but liked it less than Angry Young Spaceman (the last book I read by Munroe) despite its superhero theme. I was more frustrated after finishing this book than I was after reading Angry Young Spaceman with Jim Munroe's tendency to just meander along in the lives of some people and then suddenly, something vaguely climactic but mostly out of nowhere happens about 20-30 pages from the end of the book, without any buildup, and without much explanation, and without any denouement afterward. It always feels really forced. In Angry Young Spaceman I didn't mind *too* much, and since I had otherwise enjoyed the book I didn't write the whole thing off for lacking any real conflict, but I guess I can't accept it with the same charity twice.
I can see how one could say, maybe, that Jim Munroe's books are designed to break the traditional cathartic plot structure of exposition, rising action, conflict, climax, denouement... and that this is done intentionally to more accurately simulate real life, where somethings things happen but they're usually unexpected, and nothing comes with a handy pyramid design to lead us through. I can see too how one may say that since through the entire book Munroe's characters are discussing and dealing with difficult social and ethical concepts, there is most definitely conflict. But still... something about seeing the *same* "alternate structure" twice feels less like deliberation and more like some kind of Rob Liefeld foot syndrome*. It also makes me feel like, I already know exactly what I'll be getting when/if I read the next book of his I was considering checking out.
This may not bother other readers - to be honest it only a *little* bothers me and I still think Jim Munroe's books are fantastically entertaining reads - but I thought it was worth a mention.
(For those not up w/ comic references: Rob Liefeld cannot draw feet, so he constantly hides the feet of his subjects in smoke, behind rocks, in standing water....)
gregoryscottdilcox's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
limina's review
It's just not what I'm in the mood for. It does sound like a fun book though.
rdebner's review against another edition
4.0
Awesome! Cassandra is such a fabulous character. It was a quick, fun read.
cindywho's review against another edition
3.0
I loaded this one onto my Palm and was reading it here and there on public transit. Easier to pull out than a book and lighter too. When real e-books happen, I will be on that bandwagon... Anyway, Flyboy was light and entertaining, with endearing characters, goofy and sweet. It was bizarre enough to keep me happy. Cute! (August 10, 2004)
svenseven's review against another edition
4.0
Do you get annoyed by reviews that say something like a mix or Nicholas Hornby male confession with Christopher moore's humor and Harukai Murakami's quirkiness. So do I. It doesn't really tell you anything. Except in this case it would apply. Especially the Nick hornby and Christopher moore mixed together part. The humor is fun but not outrageous. the character interactions are fun and fit the college setting they are placed in. Reminds me of my younger days. Friends joking with each other, sometimes relentlessly. The main two characters are quirky, and unsure of themselves just like college kids can be. It's not just the dialogue that makes this book a good read. The way the main two characters decide to fight social injustice instead of facing supervillians or major criminals. They take on challenges that college kids would take on. For example they attend a take back the night protest. If the books seems slow in the beginning please stick it out till the last third. It puts alot into the end of the book. Everyone's lives are changed.