Banana Fox and the Book-Eating Robot (Family Comic Friday)

Kids- be sure to return your library books and you might end up in library jail like our hero, Banana Fox!

Believing that the Secret Serpent Society is finally defeated, Banana Fox and his pals think they might have a chance to relax. That is until they run across Sour Grapes, Jr., the son of the SSS's leader. Turns out children can't go to jail. But as Banana Fox finds out, if you don't give your books back to the library, you'll end up in jail! 

True- this is likely a plot by Sour Grapes Jr. Especially since the young villain has a new job as a library volunteer. But is it really fair to have to go to library jail when the book return is in reality a book-eating robot?

This chapter book graphic novel was a hilarious read. I chuckled several times to this, the second in the Banana Fox series by James Kolchaka (Johnny Boo). Banana Fox is a rather featherbrained hero much like The Tick. Banana Fox has that overly-optimistic approach to superheroing as sometimes he has trouble finding the bad in people. And the main character seems to get confused a lot seeing trouble when good intentions are the only thing on the menu. 

I just love this topsy-turvy look at good and evil!

The characters of this book are memorable. The banter between both Banana Fox and his human sidekicks and the kid villain were both witty and brilliant. They're all clearly much more smarter than Banana Fox. But they also seem unaffected by the hero's surreal look on life! And Sour Grapes Jr. really does love his Loopy Boopy Bunny books!

The artwork is a bit cartoonish. But it's something that young readers will delight in. And with the zany traps and clever dialogue, parents and guardians will too! You know how Bugs Bunny gets all double-talkish and confuses the heck out of Elmer Fudd or Daffy Duck? That's how the villain of this book befuddles Banana Fox. Only, in this book, you don't have resulting explosions or falling anvils which in return should appease many violence-avoiding grown-ups.

I'm a little disappointed in myself that I didn't read book #1 first (Banana Fox and The Secret Serpent Society). But this book was from last November and still on my library's new shelf. The good thing is you don't have to have read that volume in order to understand or enjoy this graphic novel.(Though I'm not sure why he's called Banana Fox...)  But when you finish this one, you might want to go back and start from the beginning. I just hope I remember to bring this book back least I get put in library jail!

A great laugh for readers aged 7-10 or so. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters (Family Comic Friday)

We’ve got one more special treat in store for you fans of all-ages Halloween fun! Join us for an early Family Comic Friday as we explore the latest adventure in the Eisner Award winning series Johnny Boo!

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters
Written and Illustrated by James Kochalka
Published by Top Shelf Productions/IDW Publishing
Pages: 42
Retail: $9.99

I was a little disappointed when the line-up for free comics for the 2019 Halloween ComicFest were announced. There was no Johnny Boo! The award-winning graphic novel series by James Kochalka had become a staple offering of the annual comic book store event. Where’s Boo?

But I quickly got my answer as to Johnny Boo, the rad ghost, and his friends absence from HCF 2019. It’s because fans of this series are getting a pre-Halloween treat with the release of the latest graphic novel; The Midnight Monsters!

Johnny Boo and his sprite companion Squiggle are out in the woods doing some awesome late night skateboarding tricks! But the fun turns a little chaotic when the Ice Cream Monster arrives demanding his fair share of frosty treats! Armed with only a skateboard and a helmet made of pumpkin, how will Johnny Boo and his best bud escape this midnight monster?

The Johnny Boo books are recommended for readers of pre-K to third grade. A book full of ghosts and monsters for preschoolers? Well, you know how on Sesame Street Grover and Oscar the Grouch are monsters; but they’re nice monsters? That’s the same way here. A couple of scenes might be a tiny bit spooky, since everything occurs at midnight. But the monsters and surprises in this book are quite harmless.

Series creator James Kolchakla loves to pepper the dialogue of his stories with funny words and silly sayings. This makes the Johnny Boo series a great read for very young readers. The art is childlike but whimsical. Plus, the story has some unexpected turns for a rapid fire approach aimed at youngsters with short attention spans. 

One thing that younger readers might not have a problem with but adults like me will is the back cover! Try to avoid looking at it at all costs! No, it’s not scary! But it does contain a major spoiler that ruins the surprise at the end of the book! I blame the editors and design team on this!

A fun-filled graphic novel for all ages! Grab it now just in time for Halloween!

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters (A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

We’ve got one more special treat in store for you fans of all-ages Halloween fun! Join us for an early Family Comic Friday Extra as we explore the latest adventure in the Eisner Award winning series Johnny Boo!


Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters
Written and Illustrated by James Kochalka
Published by IDW Publishing
Pages: 42
Retail: $9.99

I was a little disappointed when the line-up for free comics for the 2019 Halloween ComicFest were announced. There was no Johnny Boo! The award-winning graphic novel series by James Kochalka had become a staple offering of the annual comic book store event. Where’s Boo?

But I quickly got my answer as to Johnny Boo, the rad ghost, and his friends absence from HCF 2019. It’s because fans of this series are getting a pre-Halloween treat with the release of the latest graphic novel; The Midnight Monsters!

Johnny Boo and his sprite companion Squiggle are out in the woods doing some awesome late night skateboarding tricks! But the fun turns a little chaotic when the Ice Cream Monster arrives demanding his fair share of frosty treats! Armed with only a skateboard and a helmet made of pumpkin, how will Johnny Boo and his best bud escape this midnight monster?

The Johnny Boo books are recommended for readers of pre-K to third grade. A book full of ghosts and monsters for preschoolers? Well, you know how on Sesame Street Grover and Oscar the Grouch are monsters; but they’re nice monsters? That’s the same way here. A couple of scenes might be a tiny bit spooky, since everything occurs at midnight. But the monsters and surprises in this book are quite harmless.

Series creator James Kolchalka loves to pepper the dialogue of his stories with funny words and silly sayings. This makes the Johnny Boo series a great read for very young readers. The art is childlike but whimsical. Plus, the story has some unexpected turns for a rapid fire approach aimed at youngsters with short attention spans. 

One thing that younger readers might not have a problem with but adults like me will is the back cover! Try to avoid looking at it at all costs! No, it’s not scary! But it does contain a major spoiler that ruins the surprise at the end of the book! I blame the editors and design team on this!

A fun-filled graphic novel for all ages! Grab it now just in time for Halloween!

Johnny Boo and the Midnight Monsters debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.