Battling Boy: The Rise of Aurora West

 

  I love Paul Pope's work. Ever since the day I first came across Batman: Year 100 at my local library many years ago, I've been a fan. So, when on Goodreads.com, I saw a drawing to win a free copy of this graphic novel, I gladly entered my name. With great luck, I won this book and within about a week, I was taking my first journey into the world of Battling Boy. 

    I really thought I was going to be lost reading this book as I've not read Battling Boy. But, upon further research, I discover that the Rise of Aurora West is a very good place to start because this book is actually the prequel to Battling Boy, Volume 1!

    The Battling Boy books are set in the future during a monster apocalypse in the city of Arcopolis. Young Aurora West is the sidekick to hero adventurer inventor father turned vigilante, Haggard West. Aurora is literally in training for her very life because the monsters of Arcopolis steal children for an unknown purpose. (It's postulated that the kids are stolen for food, but there are clues to another more sinister purpose for their kidnappings.)

   On a patrol with her father, Aurora sees a symbol that looks very familiar to her. When she shows it to her nanny, Aurora learns that she used to draw the symbol all the time as a little girl, saying it was in reference to her imaginary friend, Mr. Wurple. This revelation brings back memories to the time when her mother was alive before the monsters came. 

   Using her training, smarts, and her handy Kenpo sticks, the girl secretly begins an investigation in her mother's mysterious murder. But will the answers she finds be the ones she's really looking for and how does it involve the shadowy Mr. Wurple who disappeared on the night of Mrs. West's death?

    I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Yes- the family's last name is West. Dad drives the West-mobile and is a vigilante. Plus, Aurora uses similar weapons and training as one young Mindy McCready. So even though this story borrows heavily from Batman and Hitgirl (from the Kick-Ass franchise), this book was fresh and exciting. 

The mystery of just who killed Aurora West's mother is one of the reason's I liked this book so much. The spooky monster villains are another unique perk that this graphic novel has to offer. But it's the art-style that really made this edition seem so different than just about anything on the market today.

    Though this book was illustrated by David Rubin (The Fiction), the Rise of Aurora West really emanates primary author, Paul Pope and his iconic style. Pope's works are heavily influenced by German neo-classicalism. The style takes the gritty and often absurd scenery of avant-garde films such as Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Robert Weine's Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and is infused with the Imperialist splendor of great civilization's such as Rome and Athens. A prime example of this type of work is in the 1938 Olympics posters of the Nazi regime. (Interestingly enough, Pope crafted an Elseworlds story based on if Batman operated as a Jewish sympathizer in Nazi Germany in the pages of The Batman Chronicles (issue #11, Winter, 1998.))

     With great writing by Pope and co-author JT Petty, superb artwork, and an eclectic cast of characters, The Rise of Aurora West was a fantastic sci-fi/horror thriller that will keep the reader guessing and since this is the first of two volumes- wanting more. (The sequel: Battling Boy: the Fall of the House of West is due in stores October 13th.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.