Spider-Man: Quantum Quest! ( Family Comic Friday)

My local library surprised me with this brand new Spider-Man all ages graphic novel. Debuting in January of this year, I totally missed the previews on this book. While it's touted on the cover as a Spidey team-up with the Fantastic Four, the wall crawler actually works in conjunction with over a dozen heroes from the Marvel Universe!

The story begins with the Fantastic Four, joined with the ruler of Atlantis, Prince Namor, asking for assistance from Spider-Man. The underwater kingdom of Atlantis has disappeared. Mr. Fantastic thinks someone has shrunk the realm. Prince Namor believes that his kingdom has been stolen. Since Spidey is really good at finding stuff, the FF ask him to find a missing talisman that could help in returning Atlantis back to it's rightful place.

In Spider-Man's search, he ends up in the microscopic Quantum Realm, where it turns out that several of his friends have become trapped. Now Spider-Man must find a way home for heroes such as Ant-Man, Moon Girl and the Sensational She-Hulk along with that magic charm and probably Atlantis as well. It will be a topsy-turvy quest for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man readers of all ages will not want to miss!

Written and illustrated by Mike Maihack, this graphic novel was almost perfect. The art was clearly aimed at kids, but it had a nostalgic charm mixed with style elements of many of the characters looks in the MCU. The writing was clever and fun. Maihack threw out all the stops to make this an interactive book, including a 'Where's Waldo' style list of hidden things to search for throughout the story. (That Hulk plushie was nearly impossible to find!) There's even an extra scene after the entire book is done- just like you'd expect from a Marvel movie! Then there's the ending...

It's a freaking cliffhanger! I hate cliffhangers. Especially if I don't have the next chapter/segment. Comic book experts bemoan that the next generation of readers are not buying comic books to the degree that the previous couple of generations did. Critics warn that a new wave of comic book collectors is in danger of never materializing. If you ask me, putting a cliffhanger in books aimed at young readers is a massive misstep in trying to lure new young readers.

The next book, which is actually volume 3 in the 'A Mighty Marvel Team-Up' series is set in outer space. It promises to include many of your parents and grandparents favorite cosmic heroes. Plus, there's Jeff the Shark! You can't get too upset over a cliffhanger when that diminutive land shark is involved.

Recommended for readers ages 6-9. I think younger readers will love this book, especially if read with assistance by an older sibling or relative!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

It's Jeff #1

A week ago I reviewed a book called Silent Tales by Gustavo Duarte. I basically stated that comic stories without words don't work as effectively as the 'talkies'. Well for today's review, I want to amend that statement. Comic books without words can work... sometimes.

The book I read is Marvel's It's Jeff! #1. Written by Kelly Thompson with art by the Japanese duo known as Gurihiru, this comic has a lot of similarities with DC's Silent Tales. 

• Both books are one-shots from 2023.
• Both specials are based on digital platform series.
• Both series use only emojis for speech and only the occasional word like for an exit sign or name of a business are used.
• Both works have a humorous slant.

The only difference between It's Jeff and Silent Tales is that Marvel's book was rated for all ages and I very much think that was what made that issue more enjoyable. It also helps that Jeff is a loyal friend. He's also adorable!

For those of us not in the know, Jeff is a land shark. Genetically modified by a super villain, along with other animals to take over the world of the humans, despite being a shark, Jeff didn't have a single evil bone in his body. (Maybe that's because a shark's skeleton is made of cartilage.) Jeff ended up winning the heart of Gwenpool, who entrusted the fish to Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone before being reclaimed by Gwenpool and becoming the official mascot of the most recent incarnation of the West Coast Avengers. Now Kate Bishop, the female Hawkeye, is Jeff's primary caretaker.

In this issue, Jeff has about a dozen adventures. Some involve him acting like a very toothy dog, like ruining Avengers Thanksgiving dinner. But many of Jeff's adventures occur as a part of his overactive imagination. Too hot for a snowball fight? Jeff's got you covered! Got a bathtub full of mermaids that need saving? Jeff's got you covered! Just need a friend? Jeff's got you covered!

I had very little trouble understanding these stories. Kelly Thompson did an excellent job plotting everything so that readers 5-95 could follow the plot. Gurihiru's cartoony style is accessible to all. And above all, I wanted more of it! Good thing there's another Jeff special that came out earlier this year. It's just too bad that I passed it over, having not read this one-shot yet and not knowing how magical Jeff is. 

I won't make that mistake again!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.