Boonana Tail Halloween Special #1

I don't know if it warrants disclosure as I don't make any money on this blog. But I have met Banana Tail creator Mark McKenna before at a couple of Cons. He was very warm and friendly with a passion for making family friendly comic books. It's also his way of continuing to honor his late father's legacy, as Mark created the character as a youth with his pop.

Banana Tail is a playful little monkey with a yellow tail, hence the name. He has a number of adventures with his friends Tic Tac, the plaid zebra and the pink rhinoceros Reena. There's also an elderly ostrich named Eggboo who gives sage advice to Banana Tail and his pals. Everyone lives in a jungle, which of course isn't known for being very safe. At times, Banana Tail and company must steer clear of Snare the snake and his alligator buddy, Snap.

There are several stories in this Halloween special. The first story has Banana Tail, Tic Tac and Reena getting lost in a creepy part of the Checkerboard Jungle. The trio get separated and wind up meeting another group of friends who also got lost in the dark woods. It's a delightful story about not making assumptions.

Other stories, which are considerably shorter involve Banana Tail trying very hard to scare his friends with his new ghost costume... and failing terribly. Then the mischievous monkey has a bad dream with a giant problem. Along with Tic Tac, Banana Tail dares a friend to spend 5 minutes in a dreaded area of the jungle and lastly the 3 friends use astronomy to find their way to Eggboo's Halloween party. 

I liked all of the back-up tales, though I didn't understand the punch line for the story about going to the Halloween party. There's also an adorable and informative one-pager about trick-or-treat safety that should be a required posting on comic book sites every October 29th-31st!

Charming all-ages fun. There's a couple other comics out there starring Banana Tail and friends, along with a coloring book. They can be purchased on the official website which has a lot of other fun things to read and do. This was great all-ages Halloween fun that was joyful and very heartwarming.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Pat McCormick's Charley & Humphrey #1 (Family Comic Friday)

If you grew up in the bay area during the 1960s or 70s, then does this edition of Family Comic Friday have a treat for you. Pat McCormick's Charley and Humphrey are back in a new series of comic books from 10 Ton Press.

Now I'm not from San Francisco. In fact, the furthest West I've ever gotten is Albuquerque. But I remember seeing some of the exploits of Charley (the Horse) and Humphrey (the Dog) a couple of years back in a documentary about local TV kids shows. Last month, when I saw the notice for this new series, I placed an order through my favorite LCS because I remembered how funny these two puppet pets were. 

After a couple of weeks of waiting, my copy finally turned up. COVID is still causing shipping delays from Diamond Distributing. But I must say, this premier issue was worth the wait. 

Issue #1 has Charley very nervous about having to make a speech that will christen a new ship at the docks where the horse works. Roommate Humphrey is a little peeved at not being invited to the big event. That's mostly because where Humphrey treads, trouble follows. And follows it does when a batch of nasty fleas decide that horse meat is a tastier treat than dog. 

Expect a lot of laughs and a bunch of mayhem when Humphrey takes the Bay area's slowest means of mass transit to stop the fleas from ruining Charley's big day at the docks!

I really enjoyed this comic. The writing was very well balanced between big slapsticky jokes and dry witticisms between the bus driver and Humphrey. Be sure to explore the backgrounds of each pages as there are some great Easter egg gags hiding. 

I liked the artwork too. It mostly captures the look and style of Pat McCormick's puppets very well. Though the way artist John Hageman positions each character's mouth when they are speaking in some odd off-kilter way did irk me somewhat. Overall, I liked the style which looked like an animated sibling of Spongbob Squarepants and Ren & Stimpy.

Even though I compare the artwork in this book to one of the most controversial kids cartoons of all-time, this issue was wholesome fun. Writer Justin Sane made sure to make the good clean fun very clever. Nothing is dumbed down here; meaning that kids and adults will find something in this book to enjoy. 

This is the first all-ages work from 10 Ton Press. The Indy publisher is mostly known for it's line of rock and roll biographical one-shots which are not for kids. But you'd never know it hear. The publisher has plans for at least 10 issues to be released bi-monthly. Meaning issues #2 should be hitting stores in March. 

If you grew up to Charley & Humphrey and your grandkids or kids love to read- get them this book! Preorder it! In the meantime while you wait, fire up Youtube where there are dozens of skits starring Charley, Humphrey and friends to watch. Each are less than 2 minutes long. Each are guaranteed to make you laugh!

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.

This review was originally published on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 on Outrightgeekery.com.

Red Panda and Moon Bear (Family Comics Friday)

This Family Comics Friday, we head to sunny Florida to catch up on the hilarious adventures of the world’s two newest (and possibly youngest) superheroes, Red Panda and Moon Bear!

Red Panda and Moon Bear TPBWritten and illustrated by: Jarod Rosello
Published by Top Shelf Productions
Pages: 193
Retail: $14.99

The sister and brother duo of Red Panda and Moon Bear are the defenders of their Floribbean community. They keep their neighbors safe from everything; from a pair of bad dogs to a disappearing apartment building to the most adorable but destructive beings in the universe. If there is evil in the barrio, Red Panda and Moon Bear will be there to defeat it!

This graphic novel was extremely funny. I’ve worked with kids for a number of years and both Red Panda and Moon Bear sound like kids do! The heroes come up with inventive yet far-fetched inventions to defeat crime. Only these gadgets work! Well, most do...

This is author/illustrator Jarod Rosello’s third work; his first however, for kids. I’m hoping that Rosello continues to write for younger readers because he does it extremely well. Here's to hoping that we might also see more adventures of Red Panda and Moon Bear!

Jarod Rosello is a Cuban-American writer. His background shows in many facets of this book from the smattering of Spanish words to the various Caribbean ethnic backgrounds of the many residents of our heroes’ hometown. This book is definitely a cultural account of his Florida upbringing. Though I doubt he got his superpowers from a magic hoodie like Red Panda and Moon Bear did.

The art was cartoonish and comical. It had notes of Adventure Time with Jake and Finn. But those arms! They looked as if made from the same rubbery substance of those of Mister Fantastic; just minus all the elastic. But as the recommended age range from this book is of readers 9-12 years old, I don’t think anyone is going to complain.

Readers younger than 9 might find a couple of characters a little scary. There is a ghost in this book, but she’s kind. The use of Spanish words without any sort of English subtitles might be a tad difficult for those not familiar with the language. So grown-ups might be needed to help interpret some passages.

Overall, this is a silly but adventurous read that young readers will enjoy. Parents should find nothing objectionable. Though as mentioned earlier a couple of villains fought b Red Panda and Moon Bear may be too scary-looking for the youngest of readers. There’s still a few prime weeks of Summer reading left before the school year starts. Make Red Panda and Moon Bear a part of it now!

Red Panda and Moon Bear debuted in print and digital platforms on July 23, 2019.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Encounter, Volume 1: Out of This World (A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

I reviewed the first issue a while back as part of one of my Family Comic Friday columns. While I enjoyed that book, I felt that should I ever get my hands on the collected edition, I would review this separately as I didn't want to take away from reviewing another all-ages book. But since then, I have started do Family Comic Friday Extras. So here goes...

Encounter, Volume 1: Out of This World
Written and illustrated by Art Baltazar, Franco & Chris Giarusso
Published by Lion Forge
Pages: 136
Retail: $12.99

Encounter is a shape-shifting alien who has sought refuge on planet earth. While on our planet, he has made it his mission to protect several mysterious pods that bear the same green polka dots that he does. In order to earn money, Encounter poses as a baker. But because of those darn dots he bears, he must turn his bakery into an Encounter themed shop. You can't expect Encounter to give up his secret identity, now can you?

It's not easy being a super hero. Especially now, as a series of villains have come to town demanding those pods. It will take all the help from his super powered sidekick, Barko and the neighboring owner of the local comic book store and his niece to help keep those orbs from the hands of the baddies! 

I love Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans)! I love Chris Giarusso (G-Man)! Having all 3 working on a comic book together is all-ages gold! 

Their art style is timeless. Their sense of humor is steeped in comic book lore. And all three creators just want to create fun comics for the whole family to enjoy!

This volume covers the first 5 issues of Encounter. There's a volume 2 that just came out in March that covers issues 6-10. I'm really hoping there will be more after that. But it's been about 6 months since the last issue debuted. I'm not really sure what the delay is. In fact, there may not be a delay at all and issue #10 was the last we'll see of Encounter and friends.
I hope that is not the case; but it's real possibility.

Encounter has something for the whole family. The main features have bigger words and more complex plots for those aged 8-12. The secondary tales are simplified for readers 4-7. The villains are zany. The townsfolk are goofy. And every once in a while you have to do a double take because the in-jokes are really surreal. But this is wholesome stuff that will make parents and guardians very happy!

Encounter, Volume 1: Out of This World debuted in print and digital formats on October 2, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

And be sure to be on the lookout for my regular FCF column later this afternoon!

Choose Your Own Aspen Adventure #1 (HCF 2017)

Every Halloween ComicFest, Aspen Comics does something for kids. While I think it's great to appeal to the next generation of comic collectors, Aspen isn't really known for it's all-ages titles. What appealed to me was the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' aspect of the title. As a child of the 80s, I was in love with those paperbacks that allow you, the reader, to control the plot of the story. 

Marvel has been perfecting this type of story over the past couple of years. They seemed to be the only publisher doing such comics. So to see another publisher finally tackling the concept intrigued me. Unfortunately, this is NOT a Choose Your Own Adventure comic book.

In this 2017 special, an amateur magician accidentally sends a group of wild and mystical animal pals into two places unknown. As the two groups try to get home, you the reader help them on their quest by solving puzzles, riddles, and other cool activities. 

While writer Vince Hernandez builds the activities up as helping to forge the destinies of the animals, there's nothing here to alter their outcomes. Usually with a Choose Your Own Adventure, the reader must decide to that the character left or right. Going left might result in finding the lost treasure. While going right might cause the protagonist to fall into a pit of vipers.

By saying something like 'help the animals through a maze' doesn't change the characters' destinies. That's not the case here as this really more of an activity book. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of an activity book comic book. But don't sell me a Choose Your Own Adventure if there's nothing in it that if left up to me to decide. 

This comic offering from Aspen had promise but it lied. Still, it was a fun read. The characters were adorable and the fun and games was something I would have killed for as a trick-or-trick prize. The book is just not what I was sold on.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Little Tails in Prehistory (Family Comic Friday)

You've heard of moose and squirrel. Surely, you are all familiar with cat and dog. But have you ever encountered two such friends as squirrel and dog? Well, let me introduce you to Chipper the dog and Squizzo the squirrel! Together, they are the stars of this week's Family Comic Friday Selection: Little Tails in Prehistory!

 

Little Tails in Prehistory
Written by Frederic Brremaud
Art by Federico Bertolucci
Translated by Mike Kennedy
Published by Lion Forge

Squizzo and Chipper take an exciting trip through the prehistoric past encountering dinosaurs, wooly mammoths and cavemen! The intrepid animals starf out in millions of years in the past where they encounter a archeopteryx; a colorful feathered reptile. The creature tells the duo that in order to get back to the modern era, Squizzo and Chipper must travel to the heart of a volcano seen way off in the distance. As the dog and squirrel get closer to the volcano, they move forward in time meeting and sometimes fleeing from ancient creatures of different periods of prehistory.

Prehistory is the fourth book in the Little Tails series created by the French creative team of Frederic Brremaud and Federico Bertolucci. In all of these volumes, now totaling six, Chipper and Squizzo learn about animals from the deepest oceans to the greenest forests in the land.

Each page is a wonderful mix of adorable sequential art and lavish painted scenery. Chipper and Squizzo's adventures take place in the cartoon segments of each page. The animals they discover are rendered in some visually stunning settings. As a child, I remember being entranced by this book about dinosaurs. I forget the name, but that book was filled with these fantastic scenes of dinosaurs doing battle or enjoying life as a thunder lizard would. Little Tails in Prehistory brings back the wonder of that lost treasury of mine.

Brremaud and Bertolucci do something in this book that is one of my keys to a perfect Family Comic Friday offering- it's both entertaining AND educational! Sure, saying that the triceratops used it's flanged collar to attract a mate is a bit of a stretch. That animal lived before humans were even thought of. So how do we really know that's what a triceratops ready did to find it's soul mate? Regardless, there's lots to learn in this book. Thanks to Chipper and Squizzo, the learning is also fun and funny.

This 2017 book is recommended for all ages. Being a book about dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, there are some complicated words like elasmosaurus. So an older co-reader's help may be needed for younger bookworms. While at least one dinosaur chases our heroes, there's nothing overly intense or scary. Jurassic Park this is not.

Check out Little Tails in Prehistory and it's sister volumes at a library near you or at Amazon.

 

Simone: Even More Monstrous (Family Comic Friday)

Imagine that you are a child monster. What would be the scary thing inside your bedroom closet? For the green, googly-eyed monster Morris, it’s a sweet little blonde haired girl named Simone! Good thing she’s friendly!

That’s the subject of this week’s Family Comic Friday- Simone: Even More Monstrous! Simone is the creation of Quebec cartoonist Remy Simard. This series, published by Owl Kids, is a delightful mix of Disney’s Monsters Inc. and the Sunday Morning Funnies.


Simone: Even More Monstrous!
Written by Remy Simard
Art by Remy Simard
Published by Owl Kids

The idea of something terrible being inside a child’s closet is turned upside down with Simone playing the monster’s role. Morris’s closet is obviously a portal to the human world and in his curiosity to discover who dwells inside his wardrobe, Morris has invited Simone into the realm of monsters.

Morris’s land is one filled with wondrous things such as walking/talking stalks of broccoli, lawn’s that shaves with whipped cream in the mornings, and a sky full of stars that poop. It’s all very silly and quite funny. Though there be monsters here- it’s nothing to be afraid of, as long as drawings of cartoon spiders don’t give you the willies. Those eight-legged boogers seem to be Simard’s signature as every episode has at least one or two crawling in the corners.

Simone: Even More Monstrous is the second book in the Simone series. Recommended for readers 5-8, this book is filled with one-page, four-color paneled vignettes that explore the oddities of Morris’ homeland. Though each episode is short, every chapter is filled with amazing detail, odd characters and a rather strange perspective on life. With Halloween just around the corner, this is a comic collection that will delight the entire family without giving anyone nightmares!

Simone: Even More Monstrous debuted in print on April 15, 2018. It is available through the Owl Kids website, Amazon or a bookseller near you!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Robots Vs Princesses #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Who says that girls can't be both dainty and rough and tumble? The stereotype of the typical fairy-tale princess is put out to pasture in this week's Family Comic Friday review of the new series Robots Vs Princesses.

Robots Vs Princesses #1
Written by Todd Matthy
Art by Nicolas Chapuis
Published by Dynamite Entertainment

In the capital City of Harmonia, a group of princesses are about to participate in a special ceremony. Giving honor to a legendary queen who conquered the now disappeared dragons of her kingdom, aspiring sovereigns must perform a recital with an animal of their choosing. Not wishing to be out done, Zara sneaks out of the castle to search the forbidden woods in hopes of a dragon of her own in which to perform with.

Meanwhile deep in the forests surrounding Harmonia is a region called Chromia. There, an endless war is raging between two races of automatons. Little Wheeler is tired of the fighting and he decides to go off into uncharted territory in search of peace and quiet.

As you might have guessed, these two characters meet. But what you might not expect is that Zara's singing voice turns WHeeler into a mechanical dragon. Could he help Zara successfully perform her musical ritual? And could Wheeler be the key to the return of the dragons of long ago?

Dynamite Entertainment hasn’t been known for doing all-ages fair. But Robots Vs Princesses has great promise. It’s a cross between Disney’s line-up of ladies fair and Transformers. Issue #1 is a great setup in order to explain most, if not all, of the main players. But while there are both princesses and robots in this story, there is very little versus here. I’m assuming that will change in forthcoming issues…

The story so far was good. The strong female roles obviously got some inspiration from Action Lab’s Princeless. But Todd Matthy’s inclusion of automatons and the animal recital are both elements that I have not encountered in Princeless. As I said earlier, hopefully the action will ramp up in issue #2.

The art was a slightly different story. The artwork was good but there was something off about some of the angles. The great Jack Kirby introduced the idea of the dynamic posing of characters. Instead of seeing character character from straight ahead, artists are instead to render them in unique angles.

Nicolas Chapuis attempts to do so throughout this book. Yet as a result, the proportions seems off. His drawings of the robots look like they are all about to tip over. They are impressively designed. But in some panels they look really top-heavy, ready to topple over with their toothpick thin legs.

The first issue of Robots Vs Princesses sets up a very interesting looking story. It’s got a lot of promise, but it’s also got a lot to offer. Because young readers are fickle when it comes to stories that end with that dreaded ‘To Be Continued’, I think this series will be enjoyed more as a collected. Especially since no royal family members battle any androids in this first chapter, it may not be so appealing to those readers ready for Rock ‘em, Sock ‘em Robots from right off the bat. But I really think great things are in store for those readers who are patient throughout the run of this title.

Robots Vs Princesses is recommended for readers of all-ages. However, there’s some very big words in this comic. So readers under the age of 8 might need the help of an older reader. Plus, I don’t know how intense the battle scenes are going to be, so parental discretion is advised with future issues.

Robots Vs Princesses #1 debuted in print and digital platforms on August 8th, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

This review was concurrently published at Outrightgeekery.com.

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.

Glister (Family Comic Friday)

House Redecorating

Young Glister has a very unusual life. Her and her father live in the Butterworth family estate of Chilblain Hall. It’s a magical home that loses and adds rooms at random. Imagine how hard it is to find a bathroom at this place.

    This habit often brings unusual visitors to Glister home like a teapot haunted by an unaccomplished writer looking ​to complete their unfinished masterpiece. Then there’s the roaming band of trolls in the basement dungeon. In the guest house lives  giant talking warthog. Plus there’s the family tree in the orchard that grows family members from the past. I told you that Chilblain Hall is very strange.

  A Very British Summer Vacation Read

    Glister’s home plays a very big role in this collection of all-ages graphic novels by British cartoonist Andi Watson. This Dark Horse publication is set for release on July 5th and would make an excellent summer trip reader for fans of magic and fantasy. Each chapter also contains extras such as activity pages, crafts, and lessons on becoming a cartoonist.

    This is the type of book I would beg my parents for before going on vacation. It’s over 300 pages, so it’s guaranteed to keep young readers busy during a long flight or car ride. The stories are easy to read with author’s notes for big words. Plus with a cover price of $14.99, it’s easy on the wallet as well.

    Andi Watson’s stories are quite funny and entertaining. The main character of Glister Butterworth is a strong female role surrounded by goofy magical characters. She’s a lot like Alice in that she’s the sensible one in a world of nonsense and farce. The art reminded me of the spooky but also silly style of Edmund Gorey. The action scenes are like segments out of Peter Pan or Monty Python- brave but also kinda surreal. Above all, this work is very, very British and full of surprises with every turn of a page.

This volume collects all 4 Glister stories previously published by Dark Horse:
Glister and the Haunted Teapot
Glister and the House Hunt
Glister and the Faerie Host
Glister and the Family Tree

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity (Family Comic Friday)

 

  Today's selection for Family Comic Friday is an all-ages graphic novel called Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity. This 2011 book by Dave Roman is the first of a series that explores the adventures of the diverse student body at Astronaut Academy. The main character is Hakata Soy, a former leader of a super-team, whose just transferred to the academy. Yet this book is really a who's who of the attendees of the space station school. 
        Most of the students and teachers are perplexed by the new student. Some want to be friends with Hakata, others are destined to be enemies. But everyone wants to know why he's not as cool as he used to be. (Hakata is actually on the run from enemies he ran afoul of and is trying to lay low.)
      Astronaut Academy reminds me of a series of books from the 80s called Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Each chapter focuses on one character and their perspectives and interactions with others. Each segment can be read alone as it's own story or together as a thrilling novel about bravery and friendship.
        This book started off really strange. The flow just felt all wrong for some reason. Some of this is because the first 2-3 segments are framed like TV-commercials for the academy. But it's not until we meet the character of Hiro does things really seem to gel.
       Hiro loves to space walk. He is so fond of it, he always wears his space suit. Often he sneaks out of class to play hooky by floating in space. Honestly, his static look at life makes him the star of this book.
       Once characters like Hiro kept popping back up into the story, I felt like we had a winner on our hands. The art is a little crude but the overall story is enjoyable once a solid continuity was created. If your child enjoys books on life at a strange schools like Wayside or the Jedi Academy series, Astronaut Academy would be another fun place for youngsters to tour. 
        Only 1 other book (AA: Re-Entry) has been published in this series by the versatile Roman. It make take about 30 pages to really hit it's stride, but this series is worth sticking around with. This book by First: Second is lots of fun to read. It would make an ideal summer reader!
  
     Worth Consuming!

      Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars.
      

The Lunch Witch: Knee-deep in Niceness (Family Comic Friday)

     The Lunch Witch returns in this 2016 graphic novels from Papercutz.

     Grunhilda's last adventure left her heart just a little extra cheery and for a witch, that's not a good thing. Her pesky ancestors aren't happy about it and they aren't afraid to let the Lunch Witch know about it, as they constantly bang on her floor with brooms. It hopes of smoothing things over, the Lunch Witch's dog Mr. Williams tries to make her heart a little less nice. But a mistake ends up making the Lunch Witch's hometown of Salem insanely nice- including her. With the clock ticking, the ancestors and the Lunch Witch's pets must find her and reverse the spell or she and the whole city will be sickly sweet and nice forever!

     Deb Lucke has struck gold again with the Lunch Witch: Knee-deep in Kindness. Her grotesque artwork, dark humor, and sense of adventure has created a world that is both fun and a little spooky. When I was a kid, there were a series of books called Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. They were tongue-in-cheek and just a tad frightening. But it was a good scary that kids in grades 3 and up. That's this series to a tee.

      I've read recently that Saturday Night Live actress Kate McKinnon has been tapped to play Grunhilda in a live-action film based on the first book. I hope they keep the whimsy and charm of the books and don't turn it into another blockbusting disaster like The Grinch or the Cat In the Hat. Hopefully, they won't make it too dark for kids.

       If your child are fans of Lemony Snicket or Harry Potter, then why aren't you letting them read the Lunch Witch? It's a great series that is very underrated. But that's going to chance when the movie comes out sometime next year. So, get on that band wagon today.

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tib and Tumtum #1: Welcome to the Tribe (Family Comic Friday)

 

   For today’s Family Comic Friday, I went back to France for inspiration. The series is called Tib and Tumtum. Tib is a young caveboy who has a red birthmark on his face. Teased by the other kids in the tribe, Tib often plays by himself. One day, he comes across a small dinosaur that he names Tumtum.

    But dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct. Is Tumtum the real deal or is the thunder lizard a figment of lonely Tib’s imagination?

    I really enjoyed this sweet graphic novel by French cartoonist Grimaldi. It was funny and it was fun. Though this volume reads as a complete story each page contains it’s own punchline. So it’s very easy to find stopping points without being broken down into chapters.

   I also liked how this adventure was framed as the untold story of the cave people who created the paintings in Lascaux. It kinda made this story seem more real.

     There’s currently 2 volumes in the Tib and Tumtum series. Both are for readers in grades 4-6. But I think with a helpful adult, children in grades 2-3 could enjoy this book as well.

    Available on Amazon and libraries nationwide, this is a great book filled with memorable characters, thrills, and a few chills, that anyone should make a part of their child’s reading tribe.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Princeless: Tales of Girls Who Rock! (Family Comic Friday)

Today's Family Comic Friday selection is a one-shot from a series that I know somewhat personally.

  The series is called Princeless and it's been hailed as the type of Princess story that Disney should have been telling all along. It's the story of an independent young woman named Adrienne. When she turns sixteen, her father locks her in a tower guarded by a dragon so that one day her Prince Charming will come and make her his bride. But Princess Adrienne craves adventure and along with the royal blacksmith’s half-dwarf daughter and the dragon, the three set out to free Adrienne's six other sisters held in towers their own of throughout the kingdom. Tales of Girls Who Rock! is a one-shot that focuses on some of the other fiercely independent young ladies that Princess Adrienne and here companions have crossed paths with in the past.

This one-shot is a fairly good starting point for new readers. You're not really expected to know much about the storyline beforehand and each short story is framed as independent from the various Princeless miniseries. However, some parts of these stories feels a little choppy to me, so I wonder if the book is like a primer full of condensed segments of the (so far) five or six miniseries under the Princeless banner.

    This is actually the first Princeless comic that I have ever read. But it's not my first experience with the series. Back in 2011 at a local comic book store, I actually meet not only series creator Jeremy Whitley, but the real life inspiration for Princess Adrienne, his then fiance-cum-wife, Alicia! I was just starting out the reading program charity at my wife's clinic and was so desperate for comics for girls that I bought six issues on the spot. Five went to the readers and one, which I got autographed, went into my collection.

 I had kinda forgot about Princeless for a while until about a year ago when I learned that the series had become a multiple award winner of the 2012 Glyph Awards for Story of the Year and Best Writer along with a couple of Eisner nods. A friend of mine also told me that my first issue, autographed and mint is probably worth a hundred bucks (ungraded), so I have left the book virtually untouched. So Princeless stayed shelved until I came across this book in a grab bag a few weeks ago.

   Don't make this mistake I did. Grab some issues or collected editions for the aspiring comic book collector in your family. A great series that girls and boys 7-14 will enjoy. But there is one thing parents should be aware of- the ads in the back of the book. There's at least 2 ads that tells of other comics published by Action Lab and not every title is appropriate for all ages like this one. The titles Molly Danger and NFL Rush Zone are kid friendly but you'll want to steer clear of the series Fracture and Jack Hammer until the middle or high school years.

  Worth Consuming.

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The King of Kazoo (Family Comic Friday)

    King Cornelius, of the realm of Kazoo, has yet to make his legacy. He's lack of confidence and boastful stubbornness has made him appear as a joke to his subjects. But when his daughter Princess Bing, an aspiring wizard, notices a tunnel that has appeared on the summit of Mount Kazoo, the King thinks he's found his chance to earn a place in the hearts of his people. Along with his daughter and his royal inventor, Torq, and his new-fangled gronkless-speedster (AKA an automobile that Torq invented and the King took credit for) Cornelius conducts a mission to get to the bottom on the mystery. But in order to save the day, he's going to have to learn to trust the abilities of his brilliant daughter, Bing, and genius staff-person, Torq. 

    I thought the King of Kazoo was brilliant. The story by cartoonist Norm Feuti was funny, smart, and original. It combines a medieval fantasy motif with modern day creations like cars and mechanical men. Plus, there's the Frog People of the Swamp, an evil Alchemist, and lots of zany slapstick antics... The excitement never ends!

    I also didn't want this book to end. I wanted there to be a sequel and above all else, I want to see the King of Kazoo as either an animated feature OR a TV show. Just please don't make it CGI! That would ruin the whimsical effects that come alive with Norm Feuti's cartoons. 

     A fun read that kids and kids at heart will love. One of the best new books I have read in 2016!
    
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
 

Anna Banana and the Chocolate Explosion! (Family Comic Friday)

Tow-headed moppet Anna Banana has a squad of stuffed animal friends. One sunny day, her pals get really hungry and ask her to teach them how to bake a chocolate cake. But you can expect that with a title like The Chocolate Explosion, there's going to be more mess than baked goods created in the Banana kitchen.

   This was a cute little all ages graphic novel. I was a little concerned that this might be a story book as opposed to a book of sequential art (and not qualify for Family Comic Friday) since it's published more like a very long picture book. But this is a tale told as a comic book, only without panels.

  Written by Moroccan children's writer Dominique Roques (with very imaginative art by Brussels illustrator Alexis Dormal), this was an English translation. So if you are interested in getting this book for your child, make sure you get the English translation if you do not read French. It also explains why some of the narrative seems a little stilted at times as phrases in French probably don't pop as well when translated into English.

 Anna Banana was a delight to read. Very creative and really funny. I loved the stuffed animals, especially Fuzzball, who looks like a tiny but very friendly version of Oscar the Grouch. Come and join the fun with Anna Banana. Just be sure to clean up afterwards.

  Worth Consuming.

   RATING: 9 out of 10 stars.

Feathers ( Family Comic Friday)

  Bianca is a young girl from the City, a white walled settlement that houses the upper class. Poe is from the Maze, an urban wasteland that encompasses the City. Born with black feathers, the odd looking boy operates in the shadows scavenging for food and shelter with his adopted dad, Gabriel. On a tour of the Maze with her father, Bianca runs away in hopes of looking for adventure. But when she runs afoul of the both the palace guard and a gang of waifs called the Mice, Poe must step out of the shadows to rescue the young girl. But as he mounts a rescue, the young hero learns of a dastardly plot that threatens the safety of every child in both the City and the Maze.

   Feathers is an Indy miniseries, published by Archaia Studio and created by newcomer Jorge Corona. The series was an interesting mix of fantasy and old world Victorian aesthetic. Full of mystery and wonder, Feathers is a subtle allegory on classism with the rich and noble of the City looking down continuously at the lower classes who make up the Maze.

  While the story was quite good and I hope that Corona comes out with a sequel to answer the many mysteries. There's much to be explored surrounding Poe's origin and his connection to the City Guide, a mythical patron who led ocean fairing settlers to the lands that would make up the City and the Maze. However, my favorite thing about this book was the art!

  Along with being the creator/writer of Feathers, Jorge Corona is the man behind the dynamic art of this series. Along with inker/ colorist Jen Hickman (The Monsters of Jimmy Crumb), the artwork looks like in reality it was done by Hellboy creator Mike Magnolia. It has that dark, creepy vibe to it. Honestly, I was expecting the crew of the BPRD ( Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense) to come trudging out from one of the corners it looks so much like a Hellboy title- it's sick.

   A good book that I think can only get better. It all depends if there will be a sequel. If so, the art shouldn’t be changed- not one little bit. But I do hope for more character development, especially with Poe and his father, Gabriel.

   Worth Consuming

  Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

  

Uncanny Origins #3 (Family Comic Friday)

 

  The third issue of this 1996-97 series features yet another mutant! Big surprise there... 

   The star this time around is one Warren Worthington III- AKA the Angel. Though at the time of this issue's publication, Warren's going around as Archangel, a sort of Angel 2.0, after he is upgraded by the villain Apocalypse. 

   There was lots of new and exciting stuff included in this origin story, including Warren's time as the Avenging Angel prior to becoming an X-Man, along with his first encounter with the group. Of the three issues I have read so far, this is the only one that features to some degree a character's early and later life history. 

   I'm sure that has a lot to do with Angel becoming Archangel as I mentioned prior. However, there was one problem I had with this story. It's explained how Warren's feathery wings were destroyed by fire. Despondent, the mutant hero goes to Apocalypse in an attempt to regain the ability to fly. The evil scientist bonds new metallic wings to Warren's body and the former X-Men became, albeit briefly, an enforcer for Apocalypse. 

   Yet, by the end of this issue, Archangel is again a good guy but while still genetically enhanced, he no longer has the metal wings. They are once more wings made of feathers. But it's never mentioned how Archangel underwent this change! If you are going to present us with a characters history and you make important changes such as the ability to regrow limbs- or wings- you've got to explain it; even if it's just a tiny thought balloon or caption. That's Good Writing 101!

   This series still amazes me with its Batman: The Animated Series style artwork. But there are still some kinks to be worked out in crafting an in-depth origin story that explains all of the vital facts needed to present a concise but accurate origin story. A true bargain bin hidden gem that is perfect for comics fans of all ages!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #15 (Family Comic Friday)

Talk about your 'fast food'-
see, the puns are the worst!

When Scooby and the gang assist the Flash in taking down a dragon assailing Central City, the action jumps to deepest darkest Africa. There the residents of Gorilla City have spooked by a ghost ape that warns of terrible doom if the citizens do not abandon the scientific marvel. The Flash and the Mystery Gang race to the scene already assuming who the mastermind behind this caper is- the treacherous Grodd who just escaped his prison cell yet again. However, all bets are off when the simian villain seeks out the Flash to keep the ghostly gorilla from haunting Grodd too!

  

Scooby-Doo Team-Up is one of my favorite comics. So much that I can't wait to find issues in the bargain bin. It's the only book that I buy off the shelf at my favorite used bookstore and LCS, Books Do Furnish A Room. I just hope with DC rebooting the look of the Scoobies that they don't cancel this fantastic series. (Since I love this title, it's days are probably numbered.)

   

 That being said, SDTU is the perfect combination of classic Hanna-Barbera, retro DC Universe and modern pop culture references. I loved when Fred told Flash that he deserves his own TV show! Both fun and funny, (though some of the puns are groaners) this is a great all ages read and at $2.99, friendly on the wallet.

   If you child loves mysteries, superheroes, and cartoons, you need to make this bimonthly book a regular part of their downtime reading!

Worth Consuming!

 
Rating: 9.95 out of 10 because of the bad jokes.