Rocket and Groot: The Hunt for Star-Lord (Family Comic Friday)

A couple of years ago, writer and director James Gunn was removed from completing his Guardians of the Galaxy movie trilogy because of some past inappropriate posts and Halloween costumes. True, he did return after the cast and crew supported him, underwent therapy and made some apologies. However, if things had gone differently, I think I would have been able to make a great argument for who could have at least replaced Gunn as script writer for Guardians Vol. 3!

Rocket and Groot: The Hunt for Star-Lord sees the rascally duo get an alert that their cocky leader has been kidnapped and held for ransom. As Rocket and Groot follow the leads for the whereabouts of the missing Peter Quill, they reunite with their other Guardian teammates who join the search. Along the way, some iconic Guardians baddies along with a surprise villain or two will learn that nothing comes between a Guardian of the Galaxy and their search for their best friend. Except maybe for a bounty offering the promise of some much needed credits.

This 2023 chapter graphic novel from Scholastic was written by veteran comic writer Amanda Deibert. The author captured the quirks and voices of every character in this book perfectly. This story really felt like a never before told segment of the Guardians of the Galaxy cinematic trilogy. If Marvel decides to make a 4th Guardians film, this is who should write the script! And with a follow up adventure seeing Rocket and Groot trapped in with a mysterious stranger in a spooky forest, due to come out in September, I've already got a book on my Halloween to-read list!

The book is illustrated by cartoonist Cam Kendall, who is more well known for his work on board games. I liked his art style. I was also fooled by it. Kendall's style looks a lot like the work Skottie Young did on his 2014-15 Rocket Raccoon miniseries. I liked that work and I loved this one. 

The Hunt for Star-Lord is a fun-filled romp similar in many ways to the mad cap antics of Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo. There's fighting and laser weapons a plenty. A few threatening use of sharp objects. And an appearance by a Marvel UK character that in its 90s era heyday was considered 10 times more violent than Wolverine or the Punisher. COMBINED! Here, the character (of whose identity I dare not spoil), is more buffoonish than deadly. But he's still a little intimidating in appearance.

I did fear that when the Guardians arrived on planet Earth in their search for Star-Lord, that things were going to get a little preachy. Groot sees a lumberjack making timber out of his brethren and rightfully becomes incensed. That was all fine. It was the addition of the eco-protesters in the scene that could have made the scene become fodder for a bad ABC Afterschool Special. But Amanda Deibert keeps things balanced with quirky humor while also presenting a positive message of not wasting our precious resources for no reason at all.

Recommended by Amazon for readers ages 6-8. However I think those up to age 12 could really get a kick out of this graphic novel. The author and illustrator did fantastic jobs! Oh boy! How I can't wait for October to get here!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust (Family Comic Friday)

Disclaimer: I won a free preview copy of this book through a giveaway on Goodreads. Other than the complimentary volume, I have not received any monetary payment for this review.

There's a famous early Superman story called 'How Superman Would End the War.' It's a great fantasy of how things could have ended much quicker and less bloodier if super heroes really did exist during World War II. A Siegel and Shuster classic, the spirit of it is captured in this forthcoming graphic novel by the Scholastic imprint, Graphix.

Writer Neal Shusterman pens several tales about the Holocaust in which elements of the supernatural and Jewish folklore is used to protect the European relatives of God's chosen people. The more supernatural themed tales are about a window which provides a portal for freedom to a trio of Jewish girls being hidden in a secret room from the Gestapo and a crystal heirloom provides a young girl with a look at what might have been if the Holocaust never happened. These were both good stories, though I hated the ambiguous ending of the magic window tale. But it was the stories that integrated Jewish folklore that I loved the best!

In those adventures, a golem enacts revenge on the guards of a concentration camp and a pair of siblings are rescued by freedom fighters, only to be able to provide some unexpected allies to their defense from German forces. There was also a fifth story that integrated fantastical happenings with the story of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. All of these stories got my blood pumping. But the story of the children rescued by freedom fighters got me wanting the adventure to never end. It was a team up of several mythical characters of Eastern European folklore with characters like the Baba Yaga and the Fools of Chelm, I don't think there's ever been a story told just like this one and I am a nut for team-ups and crossovers!

Every story had a touch of truth to them and each section ends with a 2-page spread explaining the historical contexts and the legends involved in each story. Unfortunately, the fanciful cannot erase the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. There are atrocities galore in this book. Jews and Germans alike die in some very intense ways. Artist Andres Vera Martinez portrays the horrors with realism without being overly graphic. Amazon, which is currently doing pre-orders, rates this a book for readers aged 12 and up. I think that's a completely fair assessment.

A powerful book that was fun and intense at the same time. I loved how fantasy and tall tale were brought together to make a story that ponders 'What If...' while dealing with traumas and discrimination both past and present. Each story reminded me of the classic version of The Twilight Zone, entertaining and thought-provoking and very mystical.

If the subject matter is something that parents and guardians balk at, read this book along with the young reader in your life. Use the background features at the end of each story to discuss these complicated and uneasy subjects. 

A near perfect read. If only that first story had a more definitive ending or tied-in with another tale...

Courage to Dream goes on sale on October 31, 2023.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Magic Pickle (Family Comic Friday)

I've had this book sitting on my to-read pile for a very long time. I got this book during my days of volunteering at a dollar book warehouse. So it's been with me for maybe 5 years and I am really kicking myself for having waited so long!

Sometime in the 1950s or 60s, a scientist accidentally dropped the pickle he was having for lunch into some chemicals. As a result, the brined cucumber became sentient and Weapon Kosher was born! Over time, the scientist developed a whole army of veggie superheroes. Unfortunately, these guys all turned evil and went into hiding. As a result, Weapon Kosher was put into cryo-freeze with the hopes that where the bad produce returned, the Magic Pickle would be there to save the day.

It's now the modern day and Weapon Kosher's slumber has been interrupted. He wakes up to find himself in the bedroom of young JoJo Wigman, an elementary school child whose house was built over the science lab facility that gave birth to Magic Pickle! JoJo is indignant that there's now a giant hole in her bedroom floor. But she's thrilled to become a part of a secret world of science, superheroes and evil vegetables. And whether Weapon Kosher likes it or not, the Magic Pickle has a new sidekick!

The book was brilliantly written. Funny and smart. The artwork, especially of the produce, was dynamic, brooding and inked to a point, that they literally all jump off the page!

Magic Pickle is part Captain America and part Veggie Tales and 100% pure fun! I laughed and chuckled so many times. I was something that I didn't want to see end!

The fun actually extends past the main story as there is a bonus story in which the Magic Pickle takes on the threat of the Loconut! Plus, there's a section on how to draw the characters of this story. I thought the Loconut tale was just great. The art lesson, however, was just a little too off-the-wall for my tastes. A story about a pickle with super powers and the how-to section was the part that was too silly? Yes- but it's because of how unlike an art instructional article this section was that I thought it was just too much.

I personally, didn't get my fill of Magic Pickle. I've researched and there appears to be at least 4 other books in the series. Amazon seems to have most of them. I'm hoping my local library has more copies. Either way, I'm getting my hands on some more of this Scott Morse (Plastic Man) creation in the very near future.

And with a character named Weapon Kosher, might I recommend a Hanukkah volume? As a fan of holiday comics and graphic novels, I would definitely buy a copy of that- NEW!

This is a book that will make the kiddies want to finish all their vegetables!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Catwad: It's Me, Two (Family Comic Friday)

Family Comic Friday digs into it's massive read pile to introduce you to an all-ages romp starring your new favorite grumpy cat, Catwad!

Catwad: It's Me, TwoWritten and Illustrated by Jim Benton
Published by Scholastic
Pages: 128
Retail: $8.99

2019 was not a good year for cat icons. We lost both the frowny-faced Siamese, Grumpy Cat and the adorable Lil Bub with her ever present tongue that stuck out. With their losses, this cat lover's heart was ripped into shreds. Thankfully, 2019 introduced us to a new adorable kitty- Catwad!

Catwad is a sarcastic blue fur ball who lives with his roommate, the rather dim Blurmp. Catwad loves terrorize Blurmp from making him think that there are zombies in the basement to playing a wide assortment of practical jokes. However, a lot of times the joke is on Catwad as much of Blurmp's antics gets his roommate into some sticky situations- literally!

Catwad is the creation of Clyde's Jim Benton. Benton builds upon the formula of a snarky cat who is bothered by his housemates, like with Jim Davis' Garfield. But Benton adds alternate dimensions, fantasy and twist endings to make Catwad a truly unique comic. I chuckled so many times at the antics of these two kitties.

What really makes Catwad so funny is the writing. Jim Benton has got to be a cat owner. Because someone with an aversion to gatos would not be able to capture the way those crazy felines act. I could so see some of my cats getting into the mischief Catwad and Blurmp do.

This collection of short stories might have an occasional zombie or vampire, but they're not scary.  Catwad is recommended for readers aged 8-12 but I think older readers and grown-ups will enjoy this too. There's a hint of Ren and Stimpy in this book without the intense level of gross-outs. Though some parents make object to some of the Tom and Jerry acts of violence that occur in this book.

For example, one more than one occasion, Catwad loses his tail by some mishap. But by the next story, it's grown back. (I think Alfred, my tailless wonder, would love to be able to do that!)

It's Me, Two is the second collection of Catwad stories. The first book, It's Me debuted in the Spring of 2019. If the young reader in your life falls in love with these felines, then be on the look out for book three, set to debut this April!

Need some laughs? Then let the cat out of the book with these hilarious collections published by Scholastic!

The first two volumes of Catwad are currently available in print and digital formats!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis (Family Comic Friday)

For this week’s Family Comic Friday, I’m digging into my to-read pile to bring you the latest adventures of the younglings from the Jedi Academy. This time, the focus is on Christina Starspeeder as she begins her apprenticeship on the planet Jedha! Be sure to strap in for some all-ages Star Wars fun!

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis
Written by Amy Ignatow
Art  and story by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Published by Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 176
Retail: $12.99

The seventh book in the Jedi Academy series is the best as Christina Starspeeder, older sister of Victor, heads to Jedha to start her Jedi apprenticeship. Christina has been paired with legendary master Skia Ro. But things could not get any worse for the Padawan who tries too hard to impress her master. 

Nearly causing a war between Wookiee tribes, instigating a music revolt among the Bith and almost becoming a meal to a band of hungry Wampa, Christina is just about to give up on being a Jedi when she uncovers a disturbing trend. Everywhere Starspeeder and her master travel to smooth down an uprising also seems to be the newest locale selected by the Hutts for a new casino and pod-racing track.

Is there a connection to these seemingly peaceful races suddenly becoming violent and the Hutts? Or is it Christina Starspeeder’s doing? If you ask Skia Ro’s droid, it’s because Christina’s a jinx. Nah- it can’t be that…

I wasn’t lying when I said that Revenge of the Sis was the best volume in the entire Jedi Academy series. I really loved the Roan Novachez trilogy by Jeffery Brown. They were extremely clever books. When the story shifted to Victor Starspeeder, I was a little disappointed. Victor didn’t seem as strong of a character and he was a little bit whiny. But like Luke Skywalker, the Padawan matured. However, making Victor’s older sister the star of this volume was a brilliant move.

Christina is more what I expect out of a Jedi apprentice. She’s got the chops. But she still has a long way to go towards becoming a master. But what I really enjoyed about this book was the change of scenery!

The academy on Coruscant is great and all that but after 6 volumes, it’s gotten to be a predictable setting. Having Jedha as the setting adds to the wonder of the Star Wars universe. We got a small but not really significant glimpse of the planet in Rogue One. But thanks to this volume, I was really able to make a connection to that ancient planet’s history and lore.

The addition of Amy Ignatow (The Popularity Papers) to the mix brought a new dynamic to this series. The Jedi Academy series mostly examines a few well-known settings and characters. I.E. Tatooine, Coruscant, Yoda. But this book, with the articles on the many species that make up the Star Wars universe, really added a depth to the plot and ultimately the fun.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka continues his run on this series. Krosoczka created the Starspeeder family and his creative touch with the artwork and the Star Wars version of social media were perfect for this next chapter in older sister Christina’s path to becoming a Jedi. His cartoony versions of the Gammoreans and Bith were really fluid and full of energy. However, there’s this one Padowan with milky white eyes. What race is he from? Can anybody tell me, cause I really would like to know!

Like with almost all of the reviews I write that involve works that I really love, I always find myself wishing for more. Well, I’m in luck! Christina’s story will continue in the pages of Jedi Academy Book #8, ‘Attack of the Furball’ this September.

Revenge of the Sis was a fun all-ages journey to that Star Wars universe of far, far away. This was a book that unique and new but still maintained enough of the Star Wars canon that readers new and old to the franchise could enjoy without being repetitive or too confusing. If the young reader in your life likes the Jedi Academy series, they are going to love this entry!

Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis debuted in print and digital formats on March 26, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Mr. Wolf's Class, Book 2: Mystery Club (Family Comic Friday)

Some weeks, we come across so much great stuff that we can’t cover it all in just one column. While school is out for most of those young readers out there, the class is still in session for us. Join us in this Family Comic Friday Extra as we sit in on Mr. Wolf’s Class!

Mr. Wolf’s Class, Book 2: Mystery Club: Written and illustrated by Aron Nels Steinke
Published by Scholastic
Pages: 152
Retail: $9.99

It’s a rainy Friday for the students of Hazelwood Elementary. But that doesn’t stop Mr. Wolf’s class from having a ton of fun. Randy is busily preparing for the sure to be epic birthday party at Intergalactic Pizza Castle. Abdi is trying to devise a way to retrieve his lost soccer ball. The girls bathroom might be haunted. And the newly formed Mystery Club is all abuzz about what happened to their beloved previous teacher, Mr. Greens.

But perhaps the most perplexing mystery is who or what is behind all the items that have recently gone missing in Mr. Wolf’s class. Everyone has a theory. Yet most think it’s the rats that live in the lockers that are behind the lost goods. Aziza can’t seem to find her favorite frisbee. Did the rats take that too?

‘Mystery Club’ in the second book in the Mr. Wolf’s Class series. This book, recommended for readers in grades 2-5, is an eclectic representation of what a typical public school looks like. The characters, though funny animals, are from different countries, faiths, and religions. The families that the students come from is diverse as well. There’s traditional two-parent families, a single parent, even a same sex and an interracial couple. Though with the interracial couple being made up of a cat and a dog, isn’t that an inter-species couple?

I even think that series creator Aron Nels Steinke might have a student in this book that is transgender. Randy is a girl. Yet for the first third of this book, I thought Randy was a boy. It wasn’t until the character said that they were going to the girl’s bathroom that I started to wonder if Randy might be in some sense gender fluid.

If you are a regular reader of FCF, you should already be aware that I make parents and guardians of young readers aware of topics or elements that have long been debated as appropriate for all ages. Religion and LGBTQ issues are two of the big issue topics I see under fire a lot in modern children’s literature. To say that those subjects don’t exist in society is basically acting like an ostrich with his head in the sand. But every adult that in some way cares for a child has a right to determine when and where such issues should be discussed with their little ones.

More often than not, I’m giving advisements about violence or bad language in this column. With this book, there’s none of that. But if you are expecting to see only 1950s nuclear families in Mr. Wolf’s classroom, you might need to travel back in time to 1950. Because you will not find it here. But you won’t find a soap box either!

Most everyone knows that June is Pride month. Due to the subtle nature of gender and same sex relationships, this book might be a good introduction to gay and lesbian issues with the young reader in your life. Don’t tell them to be on the look out for a gay family. Just read the book with them. If the child asks why one student has two moms, explain it to them. If not, then it’s a topic to broach for another day. The same goes for why one student wears a burka. Don’t make an issue out of it and it won’t become an issue with you child!

These are subjects that are going to come up in your child’s life whether you like it or not. I feel it’s better for the adult to be aware of it in the things their kids consume than to be blindsided by it. You all know that fateful day is going to come when little Billy or Suzy ask ‘Where do babies come from?’ Better to be prepared, right?

Now that I’ve addressed the potential hot spots for this book, let’s look at the quality of the book itself. The dialogue between the students was really rough at times. It reminded me of times I would write stories in grade school and then read them later when I got older. I was a horrible writer as a kid. I focused on goofy stuff. My syntax was all wrong. My sentences ended all abruptly.

I was afraid that maybe Steinke wasn’t that good of a children’s author. But at the end of the book, I read the author’s bio. It turns out by day that Aron Nels Steinke is an elementary teacher! So with all of the awkward dialogue, it’s not that he’s a bad writer. In fact, it means that Steinke knows his audience really well. He knows how kids talk and interact with each other and adults. And it’s often confusing and not all that polished!

I liked the way most of the mysteries came together by the end of this book. I said most. I really don’t think that the haunted bathroom situation was ever resolved. A case of too many things going on in too short of a time? Or perhaps, the Mystery Club with solve this mystery in book 3, Lucky Stars, due in stores September 3rd.

This was a charming little book that accurately reflects the average public school classroom in America and Canada. It includes some modern changes seen in today’s youth. It’s not preachy but whether Mr. Wolf’s Class is a series you wish to bring into your household is a question you need to address personally. This book might not have been perfect but it captures a modern classroom perfectly!

Mr. Wolf’s Class #2: Mystery Club debuted in print and digital formats on February 26, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Endgames (Family Comic Friday)

The story of orphan newspaper seller Lavender Blue continues in this week's Family Comic Friday. But the focus of Endgames, the sequel to 2017’s Newsprints is more about the war between Goswing and Grimmaea. This makes for some rough questions to be answered; such as who really wins in war. But this new book from Scholastic also dives into the tricky Waters of gender identity. Prepare for one of the most confusing but important reviews in FCF history...

Endgames
Written and illustrated by Ru Xu
Published by the Scholastic imprint Graphic
Pages: 205
Retail: $24.99

I waited specifically until this weekend to review the newest graphic novel by Ru Xu. Avengers: Endgame debuts in theaters this week. Naturally, I couldn't resist possibly tricking a few readers into thinking I was writing about the most anticipated movie of 2019.
When I read and reviewed Newsprints, the opening chapter about the first girl newsie of the Kingdom of Goswing, I was convinced that the story wasn't over. I kept the faith and was justly rewarded for my patience with this book.

Endgames begins with Blue heading to the capital of Goswing in hopes of finding her mechanical friend Crow. The automaton was secreted away by military scientists intent in turning Crow in a war machine. Blue's search becomes ever more difficult when she is kidnapped by a pair of Grimmaean spies; a pair of twins who are the children of a top diplomat set to negotiate peace with Goswing.

There's two main themes to Endgames: the ethics of war and the question of gender identity and social status. Both are tricky topics to navigate, not just for kids but adults. I think most people can agree that World War II was a just war for America to fight in. But our country was far from perfect in its attempt to save the day. The internment of Japanese Americans was more about race than national security. Especially since the government didn't do the same thing with those of German descent.

Endgames explored such issues as those of Goswing heritage have jet black hair and piercing blue eyes as those from Grimmaea have blonde hair and born as normally as twins. Blue is the product of a Grimmaean father and Goswing mother. Her appearance is an amalgam and it causes many to question where her loyalty lies. Blue is also a female. But since only boys were permitted to be newsies, Blue had to pose as a male. She is not the only character who has a sort of ‘identity crisis’.

One of the Grimmaean spies is named Rose Red. Born a girl, Red identifies as male. Yet, in order to maintain the ruse of being from Goswing, Red and his sister had to dye their hair black. It's at this point in the book that things really get complicated.

Just as Red's blonde tips give away his true heritage, there's so many characters posing as something that they are not. An abundance of spies, a pair of nation's that starts with the same letter and non-sequitur chapter breaks make for a head scratching read. It also doesn't help having random flashbacks peppered in throughout the book. If ever a book could have used a narrator to frame the action, Endgames was the one most in need.

The concept of mistaken identity isn't new in children's literature. The Prince and the Pauper, The Parent Trap and The Princess Diaries all have characters who pose as someone that they are not. But generally, the switching of gender isn't a factor in these type of stories. However in our ever growing genderfluid society, you will see more of it popping up in kids lit.

For the most part, Endgames is very subtle in how it deals with gender. There is one scene that has Blue and Red discussing their reasons on living as the opposite sex of that which they were born. Sexuality is also hinted at as this book explores the friendship of a Goswing reporter and a Grimmaean soldier. Though it's never named specifically, the relationship appears to be that of more than friends.

As with all of my Family Comic Friday reviews, I judge books on it's artistic merits and editorial direction. Age appropriate topics are discussed only to help guide a parent or guardian be more informed on what their children are reading. With Endgames, I think young readers are going to have more questions about the reasons for going to war than about gender identity. However, I think that in trying to navigate some puzzling topics, Ru Xu gets a little lost and confused with the multiple plot-lines.

While nobody dies in the book, there's a lot of fighting. The level of debate on war is about equal to 10 episodes of MASH. Endgames is listed as being for readers aged 8 and up. But such philosophy can be too complex for some. I think someone around the age of 10 or 11 would best enjoy Blue's story and grasp the concept of whether or not to go to war.

Endgames is supposed to be the end of Blue and Crow's story. I rather hope that's not the case. However, if there is to be a third book, I do hope Ru Xu can avoid some of those more confusing elements. There's nothing wrong with informing the reader of a pending flashback.

Blue has seen enough of war. Let her solve a mystery in a far off land. Being in the news industry, Blue has a chance to see her world much like Herge's Tintin. Xu mentions several new lands to be explored. I for one would like to see the Newsprints universe more fleshed out. Everything just seems ripe for Blue's plucking should Run Xu continue the narrative.
Adventure awaits...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.

Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol

Dozens of minute mysteries by Donald J. Sobol; the creator of that pint-sized detective Encyclopedia Brown. Wannabe Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Haledjian (how do you pronounce that?) is on the case, solving murders, thefts, and more.

Sobol uses a number of the plots from his Encyclopedia Brown series. That kinda fells like a cheat. This book was originally written in 1967. So a number of solutions rely on a knowledge of fashion standards and gentlemanly ways that have fallen out of the norm for quite a long time. To have read this book in 2019 and not solved as many of these mysteries as I did isn't a slam at my knowledge or lack thereof. 

Another aspect of Two-Minute Mysteries that seems outdated is the level of violence in some of these whodunits. There's quite a few victims that bought the farm due to gunshots, stabbings or assaults. There's also one or two puzzles which deal with heroin smuggling.

This book, as it's sister volumes and subsequent second, third and fourth printings have all been by Scholastic Press, a leading publisher of children's literature! I'm really surprised that these books haven't been meet with some sort of protest by parents, especially since I remember first reading these books at my elementary school library. I'm not saying that these books should be banned. I am just shocked that somebody hasn't tried to get these books removed from school shelves. (Don't you dare get any ideas, people!)

A nostalgic read but full of unfair solutions, many of which are outdated by about 25 years.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Sparks! #1 (Free Comic Book Day 2018)

Imagine that the world's most heroic dog is really a robot controlled by two zany house cats! 

That's the hilarious premise to this Graphix Spotlight Free Comic Book Day release from 2018. This comic provides the first chapter of the Scholastic graphic novel from Ian Boothby (Futurama) and Nina Matsumoto (Saturnalia).  

This teaser was extremely funny. Two cats in a dog suit! How crazy is that?! I love what I've read so far of Sparks! It's got a unique premise. Plus the villain is a infant with very unusual parents. And there's an intrepid reporter who is investigating the appearances of the mysterious dog- and she always gets injured!

I've been hoping that my local library would have a copy on hand but it's just hasn't been meant to be. That doesn't mean that I've stopped looking. I'm just very frugal. But if the chance arises to get my hands on this, you can be sure that I'll be reviewing it on this blog as my Family Comic Friday selection for the week I complete it.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars Jedi Academy Book 5: The Force Ovesleeps (Family Comic Friday)

First of all, thanks to all for being patient with me this past week. I've been swamped with grading papers and work. So, last week I took a much needed day off from Family Comic Friday. It actually worked out pretty good the timing and all based on what day it is...

Today is Force Friday II. It's a new annual shopping holiday devoted to revealing new Star Wars merchandise that the general public wants but can't afford. It also just so happens to be the Friday I complete the last book in the Jedi Academy series: the Force Oversleeps.

Victor Starspeeder and his friends have returned for their second year at the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. Victor believes that he's gonna really shine this year as he will finally get to fly in a starspeeder simulator. But things aren't quite going his way as usual. For some reason Victor keeps oversleeping for his first class of the morning. Then there's the new kid who everyone likes and seems to do things better than Victor. Plus, there's rumors going around that his sister Christina could be turning to the Dark Side by becoming a Sith!

This is book five of the Jedi Academy series and I have rather enjoyed each of them. But the first half of this book was really starting to get old to me. The pattern is always this: a young Padawan builds it up in his head that he's going become the Chosen One at the Academy. Then things don't go his way and his love for a fellow classmate is complicated by jealousy or miscommunication. He struggles in class and might actually get expelled for poor grades. Plus, there's always a bully or disapproving teacher. But then something happens in the second half of this book that really won things back over for me.

When Victor starts to suspect that his sister is the galaxy's newest Sith Lord, he starts to reflect on his family life which is of a blended family. Some of Victor's pals reflect on similar circumstances. One of the things I love about Star Wars is that hard hitting issues aren't really what the movie series is trying to tackle. Unlike Star Trek that has a moral edge, Star Wars is more about fun and adventure. Yet I was actually okay with this book tackling a serious issue for once. They didn't make it preachy and it was very welcoming on how they approached the subject in making it gel with the overall theme of the Star Wars series: family! 

There's one more book due in this series as it's needed to complete the Victor Starspeeder trilogy. But after book #6, I think I'd be fine if they don't do a third trilogy. UNLESS- maybe that  new trilogy could have Roan from the first trilogy and Victor come back as instructor's at the Academy training the next generation of padawans. I would love that idea. 

The Force Oversleeps was a book that started off as something that I seriously felt like I had read before- and I had! But it really matures like the padawans do at the turn of the second act. A great read for Star Wars fans of all ages.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

NewsPrints (Family Comic Friday)

   NewsPrints, the debut graphic novel by Ru Xu, was an exciting journey of steampunk and mystery. Young Blue is a newsboy in the port city of Nautilene. As Blue’s homeland is in the middle of a war, it is the newies’s duty to sell papers extolling the efforts of it’s troops overseas.

    But Blue is a child of mystery. Like Blue’s pet canary, mystery seems to follow the child everywhere. There's the mysterious inventor who makes Blue his apprentice. What about the homeless waif crow who has amazing control over birds. And what is the deal what that young reporter who thinks Blue's friends are somehow connected? There are secrets throughout the city of Nautilene just waiting to be uncovered.

    This 2017 graphic novel was full of whimsy, adventure, and like I mentioned earlier, mystery. The enigmas of NewsPrints are not scary. However there are some mighty big words used in the book. So while this is considered an all-ages type of read, those in grades 3-6 would probably benefit the best reading it alone. But that doesn’t mean a grown-up can’t read along to this and explain those fancy words!

     I really enjoyed the artwork. The style of Ru Xu (creator of the webcomic Saint for Rent) is a fanciful mix of early 20th French cartooning and modern Manga technique. For a story full of back alleys, empty warehouses, and flocks of birds, Xu’s drawings were amazingly clean. Add to it the rich color palette of Blue and sepia, there was such a nostalgic tone to this book that I really enjoyed.

     I don’t think this is the end of Blue’s story. At least I hope not. NewsPrints ends in such a way that it has a definite ending. Yet, there’s also an encouraging slant that implies further volumes chronicling Blue and the war effort could happen sometime in the future.

     One of the best young adult graphic novels of the year!

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Animaniacs get DeZanitized (Family Comic Friday: Retro Edition)

   Relive the very first episodic adventure of the Warner Brothers (and Sister!)- Yakko, Wakko, and Dot (She's the cute one!)- in this 1996 graphic novel from Scholastic. 

    The Warners are a failed cartoon experiment that proved to be too zany for 1940s theatre goers. So the cartoon siblings are locked up in the Warner Bros. Studio Water Tower. After 50 years, somehow, the toons are able to escape but they're driving everyone crazy. Enter renown psychologist to the stars to cure these forgotten celebrities of their madness. Only, when everything is done, it's going to the doctor who needs therapy!

    I remember watching this Fox series when my little sister when it first appeared on TV in the 1990s. My sister was born 12 years after I was, so even though I was in high school, I ended up watching a lot of cartoons with her. Animaniacs was one of her favorites (except for Batman: The Animated Series- but who didn't love that show!) Oddly enough, a lot of folks I went to high school with liked this show too!

    One thing that made the series so endearing to everyone was the Pinky and the Brain vignette that appeared on about every third or fourth episode of Animaniacs. Eventually, the stories about the two lab rats out to conquer the world was given its own show. Just don't expect to see them very much in this book. Though, Brain, the genius, and Pinky, the insane one, appear in a couple of scenes, it's merely as cameos. But if you are looking for P&B memorabilia, then this will be something you'd want to add to your collection.

   De-Zanitized features TV cartoon quality artwork. But, without being in color, the all black & white Warner Brothers (and sister) get lost in the very detailed scenery. Regardless, this was still a fun read. 

   I found this at a yard sale for like a quarter. But you could find this book on Amazon for as low as a penny (plus shipping). Why, if you subscribe to Amazon's streaming service, you can buy the episode that this book is based on for a couple of bucks. 

   Animanics is one of the reasons that Warner Bros. and FOX dominated 90s cartoons. Filled with 1940s film references, clever puns, and wild sight gags, this was just one of several cartoons you could've seen every day after school. And it was one of the highlights of a decade that many consider having been pretty depressing. 

   If only cartoons today were of this quality...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

The MAD Student Survival Guide for Those Bored of Education

   There was a time when MAD Magazine was considered edgy, controversial, adult. This 2002 collection of school-themed cartoons, published by Scholastic, is proof of how far the mighty have fallen. When I was under the age of 13, I wasn't even allowed to say the word MAD. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but due to it's (im)mature content, my mother wouldn't let me buy it. That wasn't so much of a problem as my dad regularly bought the publication and he let me read his copies when my mom was at work. (Plus I was more of a Cracked Magazine fan and delighted in the works of John  Severin, Jack Davis, and Sol Brodsky.)

   But I remember that the MAD's of the 70s and 80s tackled issues like Nixon and Watergate, The Sexual Revolution, Women's Lib, Gorbachev and his silly birthmark, the Gary Sex scandal, and Iran-Contra. This was biting stuff that stuck it to the man or whoever else was in charge. It was the print version of the attitude of founder William Gaines (creator of EC classics like Weird Science and The Vault of Horror.) Gaines saw first hand what happened when government got involved in your business from the aftermath of the 1950s comics scare and created MAD as a way to skewer the traditonal (and often flawed) American Way of life. 

   
   The MAD Student Survival Guide is a strange mixture of classic Gaines and the modern DC versions of the title. Dave Berg's 'The Lighter Side Of...' is featured throghout the book as are Drawn Out Dramas, those great tiny cartoons by Sergio Aragones. Classic MAD artists like Al Jaffee and Don Martin are featured too. But the majority of the features in the book is the modern day drivel that MAD is now known for. Though a feature about the types of lunches packed by mom, that featured an up-and-coming Amanda Conner, was a delight.

    The new MAD is like those classic kids magazines from the 70s and 80s: Dynamite and Hot Dog. But those titles, the brain child of future DC EIC Jeanette Kahn, were from day one geared at kids. MAD wasn't! EC Comics were more known for having an adult auidence. But thanks to the coming of the Comics Code, William Gaines had to switch the format from a 4-colored comic to a black and white tabloid style in order to be free from the CCA's censoring body. 

    For almost 40-years, MAD was the authority in satire and biting wit and gave birth to such institutions as National Lampoon, Saturday Night Live, and even a live-action series on FOX called MADTV. But when Gaines died in 1992 the title's spirit of piss and vinegar died with it. The effects of Gaines death was both immediate and lingering. The company was bought out by Time Warner and the publication was looked at as just another title in the conglomerate's vast catalogue. 

    Sales were deemed more important than Gaines' attitude that MAD was a labor of love. Eventually, the title was consumed by another Time Warner property DC Comics and slowly became more of kids publication. MAD is now like like a Doberman pincher with all of it's teeth removed- and kinda sad. Sometimes, things are best left alone... this book being one of them.
   

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.