Star Trek: Khan #1 by Mike Johnson and Claudia Balboni

This graphic novel tells the story of how the Khan of Wrath of Khan becomes the Khan of Into Darkness.

The books opens with the trial of Khan following the events of Into Darkness. Through the course of Khan's testimony, we read of his transformation from Indian superman to European thin-bin.

While I get why the storytellers felt the need to explain why the two Khans look different, I don't understand why it should matter. If I understand the alternate timeline proposal, isn't this a new set of stories? Wouldn't it be perfectly fine for Khan to be a different person?

Or (and I'm using this review as an open exploration) is it still the same Khan from the Eugenics Wars and the timeline only changed into the future with Kirk's dad?

In any event, this graphic novel is an interesting read. I enjoy filling in the gaps from the new movies as with Countdown and Countdown to Darkness.

It's a clever tool to retell and flesh out certain characters. The illustrations are terrific.

Diehards of the Original Series will probably not like these new stories but fans of the new Alternate timeline movies might enjoy the fill-in-the-blanks these comics provide.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by IDW Publishing.

Overwhelmed by Perry Noble

Who hasn't felt overwhelmed? If you haven't then I'd call you a liar and there's a separate book for you.

For everyone else, Perry Noble has written a book that meets you at your core and provides some insight towards help.

With his own story as the backdrop, Noble provides a plan that will help overcome the darkness of the soul that seems to rear its head every other week.

It never reads like a bad cliche nor does it ever feel like a bunch of spiritual fortune cookie bits. While this book is honest and challenging in the truth, it will not leave you feeling worse than you currently feeling. Noble has a pastor's heart and that shines through the pages. You will be encouraged and uplifted and, by the end of the book, you'll want to move so you can attend his church.

While this work will be of great help for people dealing with depression, anxiety, and other negative emotional turmoil; it will also be of great help to friends and family. If you know of someone suffering, pick up this book and read it through. You and your friend will be glad you did!

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Tyndale Publishing.

How High Will You Climb? by John Maxwell

Be forewarned, this book is simply an abridgment of an earlier Maxwell book, The Winning Attitude.

It's smaller, almost novella in size, but still contains everything you'd expect from a John Maxwell book.

There are four parts: The Consideration of Your Attitude, The Construction of Your Attitude, The Crashing of Your Attitude, and The Changing of Your Attitude. (See what he did there with the letter C?)

Filled with clever and humorous anecdotes, Maxwell has mastered the motivational/inspirational writing sphere.

Based on flying in a small airplane, you'll pull images into your own attitude for flying high instead of crash and burning. You'll see the elements from outside and from within that can contribute to a poor attitude and what a positive attitude can help you accomplish.

If you like Maxwell stuff and haven't read The Winning Attitude, you'll like this read. It's the perfect book to give a friend who needs an attitude adjustment.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Noah the Graphic Novel by Niko Henrichon

This is the graphic novel based on the movie by the same name by Darren Aronofsky.

The images are top notch. The writing is decent however there were some jumps in the story that made it confusing to keep the train of thought going.

The biggest trouble for this graphic novel will be the same that the film had. Christians are going to be up in arms about how there were giant rock monsters involved and how Noah wants to wipe out all the girls from humanity.

It's important to talk about the differences and how this story fills in some of the blanks left from the biblical story.

This book is sweeping in its execution and was enjoyable to read. Now all I need to do is watch the film.

This book was provided for review, at no cost, by Image Comics.