So let’s get started first with a look at the week’s review title, Nick the Sidekick.
Nick the Sidekick
Written and Illustrated by Dave Whamond
Published by Kids Can Press
Young Nick has superpowers. He can hear extremely well. The youngster is super intelligent and his detective skills are second to none. Unfortunately, the superhero he’s been paired with has no idea about any of this.
Instead, Nick’s partner, Super Fantastic Guy thinks that his sidekick can fly and do it very fast! Plus, Super Fantastic Guy thinks his sidekick is named Rick. Oh, and Super Fantastic Guy always steals the spotlight from his sidekick, too. Did we mention Nick hates to be referred to as a sidekick?
That is all about to change when Nick stumbles upon a plot to rob the local bank. Now, it’s his time to shine and maybe the diminutive hero with get a chance embarrass his aloof partner in the process…
Dave Whamond’s story of an under-appreciated sidekick is one that I think Robin, Tonto and Arthur would all relate to and enjoy. The Oddrey creator takes the stereotype of the comic book sidekick and makes it funny and refreshingly new. I did think a little of the humor got awfully silly but for the recommended reading age of readers in grades 1-4, I guess it’s to be expected. However, the first 40 pages of the 48-page story wasn’t full of toilet humor, so it just seemed out of place for it to occur when it did.
The artwork was very good. I liked the sketch work for Nick and Super Fantastic Guy. Being an easy reader graphic novel however, the panels were huge. For an older reader of graphic novels, it’s a format that takes some getting used to. It’s extremely appropriate for the book and the age group it’s aimed at. It’s just odd at first, like when you wear a new prescription of eyeglasses for the first time.
I’m not sure if this is it for Nick the Sidekick or if this is set to become a new series from Dave Whamond. I would be okay either way as the ending of this story was a fulfilling one but I too would be interested to see more adventures starring Nick. If there’s more to come, I just would hope to see the storytelling be a little more balanced. If the adventures of Nick are supposed to be more serious, then I don’t want to see a large segment of really silly things happen to Super Fantastic Guy at the end of every story. I can maybe forgive it this one time. But, I would quickly lose interest if the ending to every Nick the Sidekick adventure was to go the way of Captain Underpants.
A good young reader graphic novel that is appealing to its core audience but is in need of little self control at the end.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.
The Tick 2018 Free Comic Book Day Edition
Writer: Jeff McClelland
Artist: Ian Nichols
Published by New England Comics Press
Release Date: 5/5/2018
Rating: All Ages
Foretold by Ben Edlund himself, in the now-legendary 1980's Tick trading cards set, comes a tale you never expected to read! Wandering into an ancient village on a one-eyed horse, The Tick must make a stand against dark magic, enemy hordes, incredible beasts and the unknown itself! His reward: ACTION! (And also a mysterious jewel the size of a truck.) From a lost Ben Edlund plot comes a story of swords, sorcery, and... spoons?!
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