Uncle Scrooge and the Infinity Dime #1 (Family Comic Friday)

If Don Rosa's The Old Castle's Other Secret is the quintessential ending to the story of Scrooge McDuck, then this tale is the epilogue!

Jason Aaron pens a story that asks what if on that fateful snowy Christmas on Bear Mountain, Donald and his nephews never showed up? Scrooge would still be motivated to discover all those hidden treasures. However, without the bonds of family to experience those adventures with, McDuck would still be wanting more. Thus, when he uncovers an enchanted mirror that can breach the barrier between worlds, that world's Worlds Richest Duck will seek to become the richest duck of all the worlds!

I'm actually surprised that there hasn't been such a story before this. Multiverse type stories are extremely popular right now and it seems like every franchise from Rick and Morty to Scooby-Doo has done such a story in one medium or another. 

A bevy of artists contributed beautiful work on this book which might seem a little expensive with a $7.99 price. However it's got a ton of extras including the story that inspired this comic, Christmas on Bear Mountain, which introduced readers to Uncle Scrooge way back in 1947. That debut story is remastered to crystal clear perfection and worth the extra cost.

Uncle Scrooge and the Infinity Dime is the first Disney Ducks comic book ever from Marvel. The House of Ideas had tested a Disney comic in the early 90s, featuring popular franchises like the Little Mermaid, but they were victims of the comic book bubble. I've had this book on my wish list ever since I learned about its existence back in March. I would have gotten it the day it dropped in stores if I wasn't so gosh darn tired from driving all the day prior back from vacation. So I got it the next day after a big rest. But I didn't have to worry about it selling out because I made sure to order a copy from my favorite comic book store early!

Speaking of orders, thanks to the special material at the end of this book, I've got not one but 2 more Disney one-shots by Marvel to look forward to in the next couple of months. Donald Duck is being given the What If... treatment in 2 new specials that ask what would happen if Scrooge's nephew was subject to the Weapon X program and then found the hammer of Thor. With an Aliens What If... miniseries just wrapping up and these Disney issues forthcoming, I'm hoping that Star Wars is next to go under the watchful eye of the Watcher.

I'm not sure if Jason Aaron is ready to be listed with the likes of Rosa, Carl Barks and William Van Horn. But he's got my blessing to write more stories starring Scrooge and his nephews. Aaron crafted a perfect all-ages adventure that includes appearances by inventor Gyro Gearloose and those dastardly Beagle Boys. (Be sure to look out for a cameo made by the adult version of Simba from The Lion King!) I only wish that with the Christmas time book-ending of this story, and the inclusion of Scrooge's holiday set debut, that this book had come out in December. You're welcome to wait and read this book closer to Christmas. But where's the fun in that?

Oh... Can someone please tell me what happened to Donald and his nephews that kept them from visiting McDuck that Christmas on that alternate Earth? That's a mystery I'd like solved! Maybe Jason Aaron can explain that in a follow up to this funtastic multiverse romp!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Uncle Scrooge and the Infinity Dime debuted in print and digital formats on June 19th, 2024.

We Found A Monster (Family Comic Friday)

Casey Clive is the weird kid in school. He's obsessed with horror and sci-fi. He's got premature gray hair. And he's an expert in monsters. That last one might be because Casey's house is secretly home to about a dozen monsters ranging from a zombie to a human-bat hybrid to a sea creature that lives in the Clive family toilet.

When it comes to friends at school, Casey doesn't have any. But that all changes when new girl, Zandra, asks him to help her with a special project: caring for a sick monster she found!

As Casey helps nurse the fluffy pink monster to health, strange things star to happen. A menacing evil drone keeps chasing him throughout his hometown. The robot claims that he's on the lookout for someone who escaped him. Could it be the cotton candied-coated beastie hiding in Casey's attic?

We Found A Monster is written and illustrated by Kirk Scroggs (Swamp Kid). Just like with Scroggs first book, it's done like a journal. Casey is very adept at recording his observations and interactions with his monsters. And there's tons of doodles and mini comics. Throughout the book, Casey's journal is interspersed with segments of sequential art that moves the plot forward. This young adult graphic novel is just jammed pack with fun!

For the past couple of year's DC has been upping it's all-ages game with a series of graphic novels for ages 6 and up. It started with the short-lived DC Zoom imprint and has now just become a regular thing at the House of Heroes. Every title DC's been putting out has starred its heavy hitters from Batman to Zatanna. But when it comes to We Found a Monster, I couldn't figure out just what this has to do with any of the this publishers creations. 

Casey Clive is not a DC Comics character. Unless he's a very minor addition that even the DC Wiki page doesn't relevant. But as you dig into the book, you meet a few minor characters that are a part of the adult version of the DCU. For example, there's the human-bat hybrid. It's She-Bat from the Batman Family of villains. Then there's- oh I just don't want to spoil it. But it's definitely a DC book, this one is.

We Found A Monster seems set up in order for a sequel. I think it would be neat if the next book paired Casey Clive with Swamp Kid. There's a mini-comic at the end the book that stars Swamp Kid and his crew. So maybe my idea isn't out of the realm of possibility.

I had a lot of fun reading We Found A Monster. It was planted firmly in the DC Comics mythos of horror. It just took a while to find the pathway to it. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk One-Shot (Halloween ComicFest 2019)

I guess like TV shows and movies, comic books get cancelled before they get past the pilot stage. That seems to be what happened here with this 2019 Halloween Comic Fest freebie. 

The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Dastardly Dirk is a promotional comic that prints the first chapter of the proposed graphic novel. In this story, Dastardly Dirk longs to be a super villain. He's got the costume. He's got the underling. And he's got the scout cookies! 

Ironically, it's the cookies that seem to be the only thing going for Dastardly Dirk's evil ways. Scorned by his nasty peers, it appears that our anti-hero will have to stay in his suburban home with his loving wife, daughter and secret underground lair (and by that we mean the basement.) That is until a mysterious foreboding cloud appears in Dirk's cul-de-sac full of promise of an evil entity taking form on earth. Instead, it's an adorable Cthulhu whose been taken in by an elderly neighbor!

This was such a great opening chapter! The back of this issue promised a release in 2020. Sure, I know COVID has messed up a bunch of plans. But I figured by now, it would have been published already. No dice!

As I usually do, I did some research and I discovered that there will be or have already been plans to sell this book via some sort of crowdfunding. But I'm not sure if this finished up or not. So, I've actually contacted writer and co-creator Dirk Manning for more info on this. Hopefully, I will be an owner and reader of the rest of this fabulous idea.

For now, you'll need to turn to online retailers to see if they might have a back issue copy of this great read. But if the fates are in my favor, I'll be helping all of you get your hands on the full story.

A funny read that has dashes of Despicable Me and the artwork styling of Art Baltazar and Franco. Oh and Lovecraft too- if the horror writer was secretly Doctor Seuss.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 with only a half point deduction because I can't readily get my hands on the rest of these adventures.

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.

Adventures in Cartooning: Christmas Special

This book came out in 2012. I have literally waited 6 years to read this book by James Sturm (The Golem's Mighty Swing). Every year I try to get my hands on my library's copy. Yet it's always checked out and on backlog. By the time it's finally up for grabs, it's the middle of January and I have to wait another holiday season for my chance! Well, 2018 was the year I got lucky. 

I really enjoy the Adventures in Cartooning series. This all-ages read entertains while teaching about the ins and outs of the cartooning and comic book industry. The series is hosted by the Magic Cartooning Elf. Naturally, when you have an elf host, you have to team him up with Santa Claus and do a holiday special. Joining the adventure is Elf's buddy, The Knight. 

In this special, which takes place at the North Pole, everyone is compelled to rhyme. That drives The Knight crazy. But as she and the Magic Cartooning Elf helps Santa create a special comic book to give to all the girls and boys of the world (Not just the good ones!), Knight just can't help but to break out in verse as well. 

Oh, and of course, if you have a Knight, you've got to have a dragon! 

One of my favorite things about the Adventures in Cartooning series is that it has activities that invite readers to create their own comic books. Usually, the volumes are jammed pack with activities. The Christmas edition only has one mission for aspiring cartoonists and comic book writers to do. 

The other books in the series seem a little more educational. Maybe it's because it's Christmas that this book is more 'for fun' that the rest of the Adventures. It's not very surprising if that is the case as other educational franchises tend to entertain instead of educate. Sesame Street is a prime example of this, as it seems every one of their Christmas specials is 'dumbed down' for the holidays.

Despite not following the formula of it's predecessors, The Adventures in Cartooning: Christmas Special was a treat. The lone activity seemed lots of fun to do. The characters were true to themselves. Plus, there were ample amounts of humor peppered throughout. 

Was it was worth the wait? You betcha! Though I would recommend the other books in the series first to a parent with a child expressing interest in getting into the art and comics industries.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Varmints (Family Comic Friday)

Young Ned and his sister Opie are on the hunt for their Pa. Only Opie knows that their father is also the illusive criminal kingpin known as PA. As they search for their missing patriarch, the siblings undertake a number of exciting adventures involving giants, horse rustlers, and a thrilling cross-country race in which the winning gets an exclusive face-to-face meeting with PA!

This book was awesome. Science Comics' Andy Hirsch did such a magnificient job on this all-ages graphic novel by First Second. The story was excellent and very funny and yet poignant at all the appropriate times. Extremely original while mixing in iconic elements from the Old West, Varmints would have ranked on my top of 2016 list if I had found this book in time. But that's okay- better late than never.

The thing I loved the most about this book is the artwork. Back in the 80s and 90s, animator Don Bluth was killing it with such films like An American Tail and the Land Before Time. His flowing style of humor, heart, and song was all the rage in family animated features both with and without Disney.

Varmints feels like a Don Bluth film. In fact, if Bluth's studios with FOX Animation doesn't pick up this book and turn it into a movie, they missed out. Hirsch's artwork jumps off the page. Look at the cover, it appears that Ned and Opie are about to leap off the cover and land in the reader's lap. And there's dozens of amazing spreads just like this cover or even better.

I really am in love with this book. The characters are memorable, especially the animals, like Maggie the burro whom Ned is tricked into buying for the big race. I don't think I will ever forget this book and I hope you readers won't either. Plus, I would not be opposed to a sequel or two detailing more adventures of Ned and Opie. 

Top notch excitement that broken into small chapters for easy read and a very fast pace of action!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Wrong Wrights (Secret Smithsonian Adventures #1) (Family Comic Friday)

Young Eric loves airplanes. So when he and three classmates win a trip to the Air and Space Musuem in Washington DC, he's in heaven. But all is not great as somebody has tampered with the timeline!

Where did all the planes go? Why are there hot air balloons in their place? It's up to Eric, his buddies and a friendly tour guide named Al and his computer Smitty to save history.

The kids are sent back in time to New York 1909. Eric and company are decked in holographic period clothing and wear a compact version of Smitty on their wrists. The Wright Brothers are about to debut their wonderful flying machine to a skeptical public. However, there's saboteurs afoot looking to wreck the Wright Brothers flyer and it's up to the time travelling students to protect the plane. But it's going to be a challenge as the baddies looking to ruin aviation forever are from the future as well.

The Wrong Wrights was awesome. I am an advocate for comics doing so much more than just entertaining. This 2016 graphic novel is the first is a series from Smithsonian Books called Secret Smithsonian Adventures. The book's authors Steve Hockensmith and Chris Kientz do a fantastic job. The kids and their enemies of time are really memorable characters. Plus they make history and science fun. The writers also know how to embellish the story enough to not lose the historical significance of the events in history the kids are trying to restore.

I also liked the art and colors by Lee Nielsen. Each character has a distinct look that allows you to know who is who is different outfits. The mysterious main baddie is super creepy looking. Plus the illustrations of the flying machines, especially the Wright Brothers flyer look amazing.

If the Wrong Wrights is any indication of the overall future quality of this series, then fans are in for a treat. (There’s at least 1 other book already published.) I think this has great potential and will be a favorite among readers, parents, and teachers.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Bananas, Monkey Magician #1 (Family Comic Friday)

    He's a doctor...
    He's a magician...
    He's a monkey...
   
    In facts, he's all three things rolled into one and he's tons of fun too. 

    He is Doctor Bananas, Monkey Magician!

    In this premier issue by artist and writer Luke Foster, Doctor Bananas is on the hunt for a magical artifact that can do any wondrous thing. In a twist on the legend of the Monkey's Paw, our hero battles a witch named Siobhan, who is trying to sell a magical simian hand at a swap meet. The talisman just happens to be Doctor Bananas' missing right hand and the wizard has better act fast because every time he uses his magic against the paw, the powers backfire onto him, rapidly aging him. 

    Can Doctor Bananas get what is rightfully his (pun intended) before his clock runs out?

    Doctor Bananas, Monkey Magician is an all-ages comic that is completely bizarre and yet the most funny thing you'll read in a long time. I first learned about the comic a couple of weeks ago when I meet Luke Foster at the Oak City NCComiCon in Raleigh, NC. I devoured this book when I got home that night but due to a very busy work schedule, it's taken me a while to get a chance to do a Family Comic Friday post. 

      I feel terrible making you guys wait so long for this review. But in the time that has elapsed, a fourth issue of Doctor Bananas has been published. Sadly, it's also the last...

     But don't fret. Readers can order the adventures of Doctor Bananas through the Indy Planet website (either print or digital) or digital-only via Comixology. 

     So what are you waiting for? Go, check it out now! Laughs await!

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy, Book 4: A New Class (Family Comic Friday)

  Victor Starspeeder is a Padawan with tremendous potential. He's got the makings of such a powerful Jedi that the teachers at the Jedi Academy on Obroa-Skai cannot properly train him. So Victor is transferred to the Academy on Coruscant where Master Yoda sees get potential for the young lad. 
     New to the Jedi Academy, Victor will struggle to fit in. His older sister, a star student in her own right, is mortified to have her baby brother at her school. His roommate Artemis wheezes and wears dark robes. Is he a Sith? Then there's the older Padawan whose taken Victor under his wing. He seems nice, yet also seems to get the new student into lots of trouble with the instructors. What's his deal?
     A New Class is just that: new students, new instructors, even a new author/ illustrator. After 3 Jedi Academy Books, Jeffrey Brown stepped down for other projects I guess. His successor Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady) did a very good job. His entry in the Jedi Academy series was similar but different. But that wasn't a bad thing. 
      I really enjoyed this read but I have my questions. For one, does this volume take place before or after the events of the Jeffrey Brown Trilogy? Just because this is volume 4, that doesn't mean that this isn't a prequel. With only Master Yoda and the Wookiee P.E. teacher Kitmum as the only characters that return in this book, am I to believe that a bunch of teachers up and quit all of a sudden?
      My other issue is one that I had with the Jeffrey Brown books: romance. All through the Star Wars prequels, Jedi not getting into romantic entanglements and marriage is a big deal and a major plot point. Yet, Victor's father is a Jedi and married (with children!) and the Padawans in these books always seem to date each other without objection from Yoda. So what's up with that?
      Yes, a lot of great characters from the first three books are gone. But I really liked some of these new ones, especially Artemis. But the annoying Gungan guidance counselor, meesa could do without. 
      A fun read that will appeal to young Star Wars fans. Not too silly and not too predictable. Being half comic book/ half easy reader, this book should be a favorite of both kids and parents/ guardians!

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Super Powers (2016-Present) #1 (Family Comic Friday)

    (With the Thanksgiving weekend, I'm a little behind on my Family Comic Friday article. But it's here. Enjoy and thanks for understanding!)

   In 1984, DC Comics published the first Super Powers title. Based on the awesome Kenner Toys line, the series was written by Jack Kirby and it gave him a chance to return to his Fourth World creations of Apokolips and New Genesis of the early 70s. It was my first exposure to Darkseid and Orion but I didn't mind. I thought he was pretty cool looking and creepy even though he was totally new to me. By the second series, the addition made perfect sense as New Gods were added to the second and third waves of the Super Powers line.
   Well, jump ahead 32 years and Super Powers is back.
    In this all-ages series by the dynamic duo of Art Baltazar and Franco, the fun of Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures returns to comic book shelves nationwide. 
    It all starts with Commission Gordon summoning Superman for help. It appears that Batman is missing and Gotham has become overrun with villains. Along the way, the Man of Steel ends up captured by the threat that has Batman. With the World's Finest in chains, who will save the day from evil? Thankfully, there's a certain Amazonian Princess out there who might just do the trick!
    This new Super Powers series was lots of fun. I love the team of Baltazar and Franco. They craft stories that are funny and exciting for kids with just the right bit of nostalgia for adults and seasoned comic book fans. Plus there's just a hint of mystery as there's a secret villain behind the whole plot to capture Superman and Batman. (If you asked me, it would be fitting that the original Super Powers villain, Darkseid, was the mastermind of it all!)
    Join the adventures of your favorite super heroes in this new all-ages DC title that just hit store shelves this previous Wednesday.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
   

Dilton's Strange Science #1 (Family Comic Friday)

   For this installment of Family Comic Friday, I went deep into my vaults to find a book from my childhood. It was the Spring of 1989, I was 11 and Archie Comics was experiencing a zenith. The publisher had teamed with folks at NBC to release a New Archies cartoon series that had the gang in more modern dress and singing pop songs in MTV style music videos. 
   All of my classmates in 4th and 5th grade were in love with the show (though I was more partial to the comics, of course) and they would even dress up as the characters and give each other nicknames based on characters. Because I was the tallest in my class, I was Moose, though I really hated that. Moose was dumb. The character I wanted to be was the ever brilliant Dilton. More on that in a minute. 
   To coincide with the New Archie shows release, Archie Comics released a score of new and thrilling titles that showed many of the publisher's characters in a new light. The teachers at Riverdale High got a series called Faculty Funnies. Archie's wealthy girlfriend went global on a modelling assignment in Veronica. And the gang at large were sent a thousand years into the future with Archie3000. But my favorite of the new titles was Dilton's Strange Science.
   Though I hated going to the dentist, he was really a cool guy. Each patient got a new toothbrush and a comic book- of your choice! It made 45 minutes of misery worth it. One day, I got my hands on a copy of Dilton and I had the best drive home from the dentist.
     As a kid, I loved science (and art!) I got really good grades, loved doing experiments, and I also loved crushing the other kids when it came to trivia. So, I always favored Dilton from the Archie Books.
    In Dilton's Strange Science, the Archie gang's resident nerd gets a sleek look, an update lab, and even a girlfriend- the equally brilliant Danni. In this first issue, Dilton is showing Danni his new shrinking ray and a pair of very small aliens are looking to use it to conquer the earth.  (Hey, I know this sounds goofy, but shrinking was all the rage in 1989- why else was Honey, I Shrunk the Kids a blockbuster smash!?)
     By the end of this issue, filled with adventure, puzzles, history, and a science experiment or two to try at home, I was hooked and ready for issue #2. However, Archie Comics made a big blunder by only having their new titles come out only 4 times a year. So it was really hard to garner readership. (Archie Comics did have the smarts to make Veronica a bi-monthly title and sent her back to Riverdale, where she thrived for over 200 issues.) But alas, I never got my hands on another copy of Dilton's Strange Science and I don't think his girlfriend Danni was ever seen again after the series was cancelled in issue #5.
    So, why review a flop? 
    First of all, the series was good- it was poor distribution that led to it's downfall. I decided to review this book to let parents and guardians of aspiring comic book collector's know that the bargain bins of your local comic book shop and comic book shows are overflowing with Archie Comic gems like this. They usually can be found for a dollar or less. 
  'But, Mr. Madman With a Book- doesn't the cheapness of these books signify poor quality?' 
   Not one bit. See in the 80s and early 90s, publishers were putting out thousands upon thousands of copies of a title because speculators thought that every first issue was going to be the next Fantastic Four #1. People would buy dozens of copies of every first issue, like Dilton's Strange Science, thinking that they were sitting on a gold mine. To meet demand, comic book stores would up the price significantly. 
    By 1993, when the comic book bubble burst and people realized that they weren't going to be able to fund their kid's college with 25 issues of Faculty Funnies #1, prices sunk to epic lows. I know of some comic book dealers that are still stuck with dozens of issues of Marvel's football themed NFL Superpro #1. (They can't give the book away.) But if you have a young one whose not old enough to be reading most of the DC and Marvel stuff on the market yet, they can still get into the fun finding lots of kids and all-ages stuff from the past 30 years for very little money. 
    Hey, who knows? Maybe when Ryan Reynolds stars in a live-action version of Dilton's Strange Science, I just might be able to fund my graduate program dreams...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Batman Adventures #12 (Family Comic Friday)

   Batman Adventures #12. It's one of two most coveted issues by collectors in the past 3-5 years (with New Mutants #98 being the other.) This issue, based on the classic Batman: The Animated Series from the 1990s, marks the first appearance of the Joker's girlfriend in comic book form. Though this series wasn't officially canon, collectors have been in a frenzy to pick this book up in anticipation of today's debut of the Suicide Squad movie.

    In this issue, Barbara Gordon goes to a costume party, dressed as a female version of Batman. When Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy kidnap the guest of honor, Barbara goes into action as Batgirl to save the day. But while the new hero has Harley and Ivy under control, she may have bitten off more than she can chew when a new foe enters the scene: Catwoman!

    For a comic that is fetching prices of $475- to over $1000 because of a first appearance, this book was a bit of a disappointment. Harley is barely in this issue. She's got maybe 8 lines at best. But the collector wants what the collector wants...

     As a Batman: The Animated Series comic, this is a fun read. It captured the spirit of the cartoon very well. The art was spot on and the writing of Kelley Puckett was exceptional. If anyone was going to write a Batgirl themed issue, it needed to be him as he created at least one version of the heroine and was a prolific writer of her stuff in the 90s. 

     Lastly, folks, I hope you're not thinking that I am advocating you buy your child this book- well I am but I don't expect you to shell out $500 clams for an ungraded copy. I choose this issue to review as it's a kid's friendly version of Harley Quinn to read. Thankfully, this issue can be found for less than $20, along with 9 other tales in the pages of Batman Adventures, Volume 2! 

      Batman: The Animated Series and the three series of comics based on the show were such great views and reads. I loved them. My little sister adored them and even my mother thought it was a good show. And now parents who grew up watching this show are sharing with there kids and the second generation has fallen in loved with them as well.

      Even non-Harley Quinn issues can be a little pricey. You can sometimes get lucky in a bargain bin but even after 10 years of active searching, I've barely scratched the surface with my wish list. So check out the reprint collections. Four volumes are currently available and they can be bought for decent prices on Amazon. 

     It's a great way to collect the series without breaking the bank.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars.
     

Aw Yeah Comics!, Volume 1: And... Action! (Family Comic Friday)

 If you've read my blog enough, you'll know that I am a huge fan of Art Baltazar and Franco. The work they've bone on Tiny Titans and Itty Bitty Hellboy have been some of the best (and most fun) all-ages comics  on the market in the past 5-10 years. Their comics are filled with material that appeals to both kids and adults. The duo are the Disney of comic books in the regards that their titles have something that the whole family can enjoy. Aw Yeah Comics captures that something for everyone vibe and applies it to all-new material. But before I review the book, let's look at Baltazar and Franco's inspiration for this series.
   Aw Yeah Comics is a chain of 3 family friendly comic book stores in the mid-west. Baltazar & Franco opened the first shop in 2012, located in Skokie, Illinois. All three stores have the same mascots; a costumed cat named Action Cat and his adorable insect sidekick, Adventure Bug. In 2013 in answer to customers demands for a comic starring the two heroes, Aw Yeah Comics started a Kickstarter campaign to start publishing their own line of Action Cat/ Adventure Bug Comics. Issue #1 dropped just a few short months later.

    The brainchild idea of Chris Smits, Aw Yeah Comics later teamed-up with Dark Horse to collect the self-published comics into 3 treasury trade paperback editions. The volume in which I read and am reviewing (And... Action!) collects the first 4 issues of the first series published from 2013-2014. So, let's get started...
   Cornelius and Alowicius work as clerks at the Aw Yeah Comics in Skokie, Il with their manager Hammond Bear. At night (or whenever duty calls) Cornelius and Alowicius take up the mantle of Action Cat and Adventure Bug. Their main nemesis is Evil Cat and his sidekick, the phantom Ghost Bug! Along with a slew of other villains including Zombie Cat (who thinks Ghost Bug is better suited as HIS sidekick), the angry cell phone store mascot Cell-Phone-Guy and the pesky Marquaid the Prawn.
    But Action Cat and Adventure Bug don't have to fight crime alone. They're aided by Awesome Bear, the Darling Dogs, and Action Cat...?! See in Skokie, there's 2 Action Cats- one's a boy with a boy bug sidekick and the other's a girl with a girl bug sidekick. And it drives Cornelius crazy that his girl counterpart calls herself Action Cat- that's why he calls her Adorable Cat.
   When the two Action Cats aren't fighting with bad guys or each other, they going on patrol for the allusive Goojie-Nana, a polka dotted horse creature. Everyone in Skokie claims to have seen this mythical beast but have never captured it. Can the Action Cats find the Goojie-Nana without driving their sidekicks crazy?
    A very fun read. Now that I know about the real life Aw Yeah Comics shops, it makes the reading of these books much more enjoyable. This volume is essentially the pilot episode, so there's some kinks that need to be worked out with pacing and plot lines. Though this is Baltazar and Franco's baby, they have lots of guess artists and writers crafting stories set in the Aw Yeah universe. Some of them are very good and some stink like sour fish on a hot day. 
    But every story by the creative duo of Baltazar and Franco were home runs. Those stories didn't have a lack of quality or imagination. By the fourth chapter of this volume, they were creating most of the material and the level of brilliance and fun made reading the adventures of Adventure Cat and Adventure Bug that much more AWESOME!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

    

    

Comics Squad #2: Lunch! (Family Comics Friday)

   From the editing team that brought you 'Comics Squad: Recess" comes an all-new treasury of comics devoted to the second most popular class at school- LUNCH! Fan favs such as Babymouse, Lunch Lady, and the Peanuts gang return from book one to in this very fun collection.

   Of the eight stories contained in this anthology, seven were really good. My favorite was, of course, the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales adventure. I just am in love with that series.

   Here, captured spy Nathan Hale recounts a short story set during the second world war. When an American naval ship runs afoul of a giant Japanese destroyer, they set out to sink the Imperial monster or be sunk themselves. As the battle rages in the Pacific, the American ship runs out of ammo, that is until someone gets the idea to start shooting bombs made of potatoes and other items from the galley. It's an all-true account of a food fight that helped save the free world!!!

  Other really great stories in this collection involves the secret origin of Lunch Lady when she was a bullied child and Sara Varon's 'Worst Day Ever' about two rivals becoming friends thanks to lunchtime science experiments. Another great tale is titled Cave Soup. This yarn by Jedi Academy creator Jeffrey Brown involves two pairs of Neanderthal children. The older pair keep pushing off their chores on the younger while they goof around. But the younger cave-kids are one step ahead of their older siblings and are determined to make sure the big brother and big sister have to clean up.

    The Case of the Missing Science Project by Meanwhile's Jason Shiga was my least favorite story. This choose-your-own-adventure type story should've been one of the best stories in this book but the idea just didn't translate very well in the graphic novel medium. Originally, a CYOA story has you given a series of options to choose from and then you flip to the corresponding page number. While a few page numbers are given in Shiga's story, most of your choices require you to follow a snaking series of arrows that often get a little confusing to follow. I did enjoy many of the bizarre ways that the hero of the Missing Science Project met his fate. Those crazy ending were part of what made those CYOA books so fun to read.

   Despite this one disappointing story- this was a fun read that any school aged child 13 and under should enjoy.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Mad Scientist Academy: The Dinosaur Disaster (Family Comic Friday)

Meet Ken, the Monster Boy…
Wolfgang, the Wolfboy…
Thora, The Bug Girl...
The Lagoon Boy, Tad…
Miss Scarlet, the vampire…
And the robot moppet Nicole…

    Class is in session for the Mad Scientist Academy. It’s the students first day and their new teacher is Dr. Cosmic. Though he’s a mad scientist, he’s also a pretty bad one. None of his experiments seem to go right and his newest exhibit on dinosaurs has a lot of bugs in the system. 

    While Dr. Cosmic searches for his missing pet dinosaur, Oscar, the children are tasked with answering a series of riddles based on the robotic dinos placed throughout the exhibit. Something causes the dinosaurs to run amok. As a result, the pupils must find the off switch before the entire school comes crashing down. Armed with their new hi-tech textbooks, their wits, and Wolfgang’s lunch, can the kids save the school from disaster or will they become a T-Rex’s next meal?

     The Dinosaur Disaster is the first in a new series of books by author/ illustrator Matthew McElligott. This book mixes humor, monsters, and science to create a book that was both entertaining and educational. This book made learning really fun, even to an old war horse like me who has watched his share of the Jurassic Park movies.

     This book was published in 2015 and McElligott just released book two of the series- The Weather Disaster in May. Be sure to check out his website. It’s got lots of great videos, activities, and cool experiments to try at home. But if you decide to become like Dr. Cosmic, be sure to have an adult on hand for safety’s sake just in case. 

   A great graphic novel series that’s got lots of promise. And from looking at some of the other books McElligott has written, I wanna check out his Benjamin Franklinstein series that combines history with silly monsterized versions of famous people. 

   Like the back cover says Mad Scientist Academy is “packed with monstrous facts and ferocious fun’ but there’s nothing here that should scare the adventurous reader in your home.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.  

Cardboard (Family Comic Friday)

 

I don’t care if this is more of a kid's graphic novel than geared for adults, Doug TenNapel has done it again. I'm such a fan of his works and this one ranks up there are one of the best.

TenNapel is so good, his books are destined for Disney Pixar status. The characters are real, full of emotion and pathos that transpires on the page. Not to mention quirky plots that just scream for a chance to be on the silver screen.

Here, a young boy and his out of work dad come across some magic cardboard that can bring anything to life. The caveat is that the duo is instructed to A) not ask for more cardboard and B) return any unused portions to the seller. Making matters worse, the neighborhood bully has sights on stealing the cardboard for himself in order to make an army of corrugated monsters.

A fantastic story. One of my favorites of TenNapel’s. The character of Boxer Bill might be one of my all-time favs. I loved this book and I cannot wait for the author’s next offering!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Robin Hood (Family Comic Friday)

   This graphic novel retelling of the legend of Robin Hood is unlike any I've ever encountered. These stories are similar to those retold in numerous films and TV shows I seen over the years. But since this book is retold and researched by historians, professors, and librarians I am inclined to believe that these adventures are the true stories behind the legend of the famous British outlaw. 

   In this graphic novel, learn why Robin Hood had to flee to Sherwood Forest and came to form his band of Merry Men. Then marvel as he outwits wealthy noblemen, corrupt clergy, and the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham. Along with the tried and true stories of how Robin came to befriend Little John and become entranced by the beautiful Maid Marian, there are adventures in this book that I had never heard of before such as how Robin Hood tricked a bishop into marrying a duchess to a commoner and Robin's feast with the Sheriff as guest of honor! 

   Plus, there's a certain episode involving an archery tournament with more twists than ever before! Oddly enough, while I felt like I was getting the real story of England's most famous outlaw, Robin's main protagonist, Prince John is nowhere to be found in this book. Was he just overlooked? Or maybe he really didn't play a role in any of the original legends of Robin Hood!

   This book was written by the husband and wife team of Aaron Shepard and Anne L. Watson. These folklorists made Robin Hood seem a lot more animated than Disney's take and it was far superior to that dud starring Kevin Costner! The art's pretty good too.

      This book is just one of several graphic novels published by Stone Arch Books based on famous legends and classic novels. If they are anything like this volume, I would be happy to add them to my collection. Each book comes with additions in the back of the book such as study questions, history lesson about life in medieval England during the times of when Robin Hood may have lived in real life, as well as writing exercises and a glossary of terms.

    Teachers and homeschooling parents, I highly recommend this book as a way to get kids reading and learning about history. Kids these days are turning away from books in droves and you've got to start making reading fun again somewhere. 

   A great educational read that was thrilling and tons of fun.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood (Family Comic Friday)

 

  Folks, I promise, this is the last Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales that I will be reviewing for a while. But I saved the best for last! Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood recounts the very complicated history of World War I.

   I have to say, it took a history major in college like myself having to read a child's graphic novel to finally understand what was behind the Great War! And I am not the only one who doesn't know why it started. (Why even Rachel and Pheobe on FRIENDS once agreed that Mexico were the baddies in the War to End All Wars!)

    Yes, everyone to some degree can say that the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was the lynchpin that set the whole thing off. But why was that guy's death was so gosh darn important to start the biggest war in world history up that that point? Author Nathan Hale and his cartoon counterpart, the American patriot Nathan Hale cleared that up for me and what a way did he do it!

   In a visual medium like a graphic novel, it's nearly impossible to draft such a story for young readers to be able to understand. Some battles of World War I had armies from dozens of nations fighting at the same time, wearing the same looking uniforms. In able to help the reader keep these nation's straight, Hale adopted the use of an animal for each party. For example, the British were represented by bulldogs while the Germans were falcons or hawks, a national symbol for both. It was pretty clever and I applaud Hale for doing it.

   Even though Hale used funny animals to tell this tale, he didn't make light of the situation. In fact, he even goes so far as to have the narrator of the story point out that this is such a serious and important moment in world history, that it wouldn't be prudent to use such devices. But, the often confused Executioner character in this series points out the importance in keeping each army noticeable with using a symbol of national pride to keep each party from being confused with another. It's a rather brilliant idea.

    I love this series. I learn so very much and I am rather thoroughly entertaining by this series. Getting to read 3 books in this series in a row has been a fun little binge read. But I too, like the Executioner character must be reminded that the events in these books are about serious, oft too tragic events. But there's nothing wrong with making learning fun again.

    I've been taking an online class on teaching methods and this week we've been learning about critical thinking and ways to incorporate elements that with allow a student to be able to expand their thought processes. This book, though a little cartoony and a tiny bit silly, is an excellent tool that will help readers of all ages think about the major players of the first world war, why it started, and the horrors of war itself. In the back of each of the book is a list of suggested further reads (that are also age appropriate!) If your child has any interest in further learning about any of the subjects in covered in the Hazardous Tales, be sure to check those other books out!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Windmill Dragons: A Leah and Alan Adventure (Family Comic Friday)

On a nice sunny day, a young girl begins to tell her brother a fanciful story. Thus, siblings Alan and Leah are transported into the story as a knight errant and her page boy. The duo is on a mission to save their town from fierce dragons made from the various windmills along the countryside

  It appears that source of the chaos is the result of the mythical bird, the Viz. Whenever the creature is ever deposed from her perch atop the highest peak on Monster Island, it causes the winds of the world to go berserk. Along the way, the duo will be confronted by terrible ogres, man-eating boats, and a giant chicken seeking to keep our heroes from achieving their mythical task of getting the giant bird back in her nest!

This was a sweet little story that borrows heavily from influences such as Don Quixote, the Bible, Little Nemo in Slumberland, and Arthurian legend. Windmill Dragons is published by Toon Graphics, who have in the past been crafting their collection of graphic novels for all-ages readers (filled with interesting backstory, fun things to do, and writing activities) reprinting works by famous internationally known stars in the comics medium. But in this case of the Leah and Alan series, Toon Books has taken to publishing a first run series.

  This is the second book in the Leah & Alan series written and drawn by Canadian cartoonist David Nytra. His first work, 2012’s The Secret of the Stone Frog won many awards and accolades including the Nutmeg Book Award. His style is very old fashioned and appealing to the eye. It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite kids books ‘Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.’

  Windmill Dragons was a fun read and it was very imaginative. I believe that this could be the type of book to inspire the budding writer and artist in your household. It sure fired up my imagination and inspired me to research further just what the Viz is.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.