Housecat Trouble

I got this book with my kids at HeroesCon this year, and I finally pried it away from them long enough to read it. I am glad I did, because it is a charming and fun book. And best yet, there's a sequel to check out.

Housecat Trouble stars Buster, a yellow housecat, kitten almost, whose owner goes away for a day. Far from being a chill day of relaxation, Buster instead learns that his house is being overrun by a horde of monstrous house spirits. Fortunately for him, two stray cats Chauncey and Nova happen upon the scene and hatch a plan to deal with them.

Of course, the plan faces some complications, including machinations by crows and stray dogs. Still, the trio face these obstacles with ingenuity and bravery, making for tense chases and athletic feats. The artwork is well suited to the many facets of this book: It shows cute animals, conveys emotion and tone with skill, creates suspense and tension, and also jokes through situations, poses, and facial expressions. Also, the book has nuances, as the house spirits are also a little scarier than I expected, and Chauncey and Nova's tale of how they came to live in the wild is heart-breaking. Overall, I found it a delight to read, especially as a cat-owner. 

Housecat Trouble was written and drawn by Mason Dickerson. As far as I can tell, it is his first graphic novel, and it has a sequel subtitled Lost and Found. He speaks about his art in this interview.

The reviews I read about this book have all been positive. Stephanie Tournas called it "a hilarious coming of age story and personal odyssey, with witty and amusing repartee and immensely appealing graphic art." Alea Perez summed it up, "A charming, humorously silly, and unexpectedly touching story about the power of friendship and loyalty in the face of adversity."

Housecat Trouble was published by Random House Graphic, and they offer a preview and more info about it here. 

Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem!

My oldest kid loves this series, and I cannot believe I have not reviewed a book from it until now. Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem! is the fourth Mighty Marvel Team-Up book by Mike Maihack, who is best known for his Cleopatra in Space series of graphic novels that were also adapted as a cartoon series. In this book the web-spinner teams up with Thor and a gaggle of Asgardians who have run afoul of the Enchantress. She was scheming to steal powerful magical artifacts, and was thwarted by Odin but not before she could transform him, the magical items, and all the Asgardians into mundane animals and household objects. 

Thor (in frog form) enlists Spider-Man to help find the artifacts before the Enchantress, and they journey across the different realms in order to fulfill their quest. Along the way, they encounter frost giants and other assorted obstacles, and there are lots of funny scenes, witty banter, and action sequences to enchant and delight readers. 

The artwork is vibrant and energetic, and I loved getting to see so many different characters featured in an accessible and wonderful way. I very much enjoyed this romp across the Marvel Universe, and what is more, my oldest child declared it the best and their favorite of the four books. And each one is stand-alone, so anyone can pick up and get into the fun without knowing much about superheroes.

I was only able to locate two reviews of this book, and they were both positive. J. Caleb Mozzocco called it "a gentle, all-ages adventure with more jokes than fights, and another swathe of the Marvel Universe appealingly rendered in Maihack’s lovely style." Robert Greenberger wrote, "Aimed at readers 6-9, the book will most definitely satisfy and amuse them."

Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem! was published by Abrams Fanfare, and they offer more information about it here.

Billy Bat, Volume 1

Set in 1949, Billy Bat tells the tale of Kevin Yamagata, a Japanese-American artist who has hit it big with his popular new series Billy Bat.

As you can see, that comic is a cartoon noir, with lots of subterfuge and, it turns out, communist spies. Everything is going all right until one day, Kevin learns that his character may be based on one that originated in Japan, where he was stationed during World War II. 

Even though the stories that character Billy Bat has are not based on any story he's consciously read, he feels obligated to travel to Japan and track down the original artist in order to get his blessing and also head off any issues with plagiarism. What Kevin finds in Japan instead turns into a tangled web of murder, politics, ancient texts, graffiti, tattoo artists, and communist spies. And the reaches of this conspiracy range far, maybe even beyond planet Earth. There are plenty of twists and turns in this single volume, likely a portent of the amount of suspense to follow.

The kick-off to this series was made by writer/artist Naoki Urusawa and Takashi Nagasaki. Urusawa is an internationally known manga creator, winner of the Shogakukan Manga Award three times, the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize twice, two Eisner Awards, and the Kodansha Manga Award. His works have been some of the most celebrated of recent times and include Asadora!, Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto. Nagasaki is also an award winning manga writer/editor with a long list of credits. Billy Bat has been completed in Japan for some time and only now being published in the US, and editor Kriistina Korpus explains more about why in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Matthew Orozco opined that it is "an enthralling, genre-defying series that combines mystery, historical fiction, conspiracy theory, and metafiction, unfolding across multiple eras and continents." David Brooke called it "exactly the kind of ambitious, unpredictable storytelling that has made Naoki Urasawa one of manga’s most celebrated creators." Kara Dennison wrote, "The art is wonderfully dissonant, slipping easily between stylized mid-century cartoons and a more settled, faded realism."

Billy Bat was published by Kana, and they offer more information about it here.

Night Chef

I borrowed this book from my local library, and you know what? Libraries RULE!

 Of late, I have been reading through some of this year's Eisner Award nominees, and Night Chef is up for Best Publication for Kids. The titular character is a raccoon who lives in the walls of a restaurant. When night falls, this nocturnal critter sets to work making her culinary magic. 

All of this comes to a halt one day when she happens upon a baby crow, and they set off on a journey into the woods to get that chick home. They meet all sorts of interesting creatures along the way, including a mole who runs his own restaurant, dumpster-dwelling raccoons, and a murderous owl. I love the way that all of these animals and their personalities seamlessly combine into a fun and organic story that has whimsical touches as well as some high-stakes suspense. This book just left me feeling flat-out happy when I finished it. It is an utter delight, with its evocative watercolors and genuinely lovable characters.

This literary confection was concocted by Mika Song. She has illustrated numerous picture books as well as a series of graphic novels for younger readers beginning with the Eisner Award-nominated Donut Feed the Squirrels. She has also been posting a webcomic called Dee Dee. She talks about her work on Night Chef  in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have sung its praises. In their starred entry, Kirkus Reviews summed up, "A deeply satisfying adventure for readers young and old." Susan Harari wrote, "Song’s delicate and beautiful watercolor illustrations, with added black lines for emphasis, and her elegant, hand drawn lettering make this book a standout." April Spisak called it a "warm, endearing graphic novel."

Night Chef was published by Random House Graphic, and they offer more information about it here. 

A Cat Story

We have five cats at home, so I am partial to these insane, occasionally lovable critters. A Cat Story portrays felines in apt ways, from the arching and squiggly way their bodies are drawn to the way they alternate being affectionate and combative in their relating to each other. The narrative focuses on a couple of young cats, Cilla and Betto, who live in the Mediterranean seaside city of Valletta. They like their way of life well enough, sleeping under boats, dodging the elements, and living on stolen fish or scraps left to them by tourists. Cilla also sometimes happens upon an unsuspecting child who sneaks them into their house.

Cilla turns on the charm to score some chicken from a sweet kid.

However, they learn of a legendary "Quiet Garden," where all cats are welcome and well-fed, and it entices them to embark on a quest to find it. Their journey is risky and long, and they meet a number of interesting, sometimes helpful, sometimes frightening creatures.

Aside from being a compelling and well told odyssey, this book is also beautified by its visual references to multiple art works and narrative flourishes that extend from those classical images. Consequently, this book is a sumptuous reading experience that is rewarding in numerous ways. It also invites re-reading to drink in all of the various details and references. 

A Cat Story is the debut graphic novel by Ursula Murray Husted. She has since made a second, Botticelli's Apprentice, which is a historical fiction.

The reviews I have read of this book have all been positive. Kirkus Reviews concluded that it "works equally well as simple animal tale, metaphysical journey, or reimagining of classic artworks." Betsy Bird called it "gorgeously wrought and tenderly rendered" and added that it "feels like a labor of love that will snuggle itself deep into the hearts and minds of kids everywhere."

A Cat Story was published by Quill Tree Books, and they offer a preview and more information here. 

Super Magic Boy Book 3: I Am A Slime Monster

In this third volume of the Super Magic Boy series, Hugo has just finished the second book of his favorite series, Sponge Man, and wants to read the third. So he and his pal Dino head to the library only to find disaster.

It turns out that the place has been overrun by a slime monster who wants to destroy all the books so that humanity will become stupid and be easier to conquer. Hugo is frightened of slime monsters, but he marshals his courage and abilities to battle this gelatinous foe. I won't spoil what happens, but I will say that all resolves well, albeit in a silly way. My kids have all read this book, and they especially loved the gruesome slime monster.

Personally, I enjoy the energetic and loopy artwork. Hugo and Dino are enthusiastic in everything they do, and that affect makes the proceedings all that more funny, fearsome, and exciting. This book is flat out fun to read.

Long-time readers of the blog might know that Jarod Roselló is a big deal in my house. We have all read both his Red Panda and Moon Bear books, and I have read a bunch of his mini- and web-comics, including the The Well-Dressed Bear Will (Never) Be Found. He speaks about his work on the Super Magic Boy series in this interview.

I Am A Slime Monster was published by Random House Graphic, and they offer a preview and more here. 

Fourth Dimensional

I have been meaning to pick up a couple of books from Cosmic Lion Productions, and with some extra money in my pocket from holiday gifts I got what was available from the series Fourth Dimensional, a graphic novel and two giant-size comic books (the first two installments of the three-part Seal Your Heart). The main story focuses on two characters, Ava a 19-year-old woman who should be thinking of applying to college after high school but is yearning for something else, and Mon, a super-powered fugitive from another dimension. 

Mon's presence cast an entirely different light onto Ava's life, and together the duo get swept up in the tide created by other Light Dwellers from the fourth dimension that disrupt human life on Earth. Plus, there are also a couple of beings who are hunting Mon and want to bring him back home.

The artwork and character designs in these books are outstanding, and they are what drew me in from the onset. What I also liked about this work was that it jumped into the narrative with both feet, not taking much time on exposition or world-building that detracted from the plot. Because of that, there were a couple of places where I got a little lost by what was going on because of vague background or unclear pacing (especially in the early pages of the first book, Summer of Fun), but these moments were few. Additionally, Summer of Fun is more episodic and choppy whereas Seal Your Heart is more of an extended, cohesive story. It is fun and refreshing to see the comics work develop and grow over the course of these books, and the second story arc is really picking up steam. I feel like I am getting in on the ground floor of something really special. 

These books' creator is Seraji, a recent graduate of the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. In addition to this independent series, he has also worked for DC Comics, notably on the Ringo Award-winning series, Nothing Butt Nightwing and Jon Kent: This Internship Is My Kryptonite. He speaks about his work on Fourth Dimensional in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews of these books, only two of the first one, but they were positive. I agree with Sean Kleefeld who wrote, "I think it's a worth a look if you want a fun, light sci-fi romp." Sewer Mutant opined, "I love the art in this and enjoyed the breath of fresh air this provided."

Fourth Dimensional was published by Cosmic Lion Productions, and they offer previews and more information about the series here. 

 

Santos Sisters, Volume 1

This collection gathers the first five issues of the 2025 Eisner Award winner for Best Continuing Series. Santos Sisters is a tough book to categorize, but I think it characterizes some of the best aspects of comics in general. It looks like an Archie comic, features adventures and characters straight out of superhero stories, and is mostly full of clever repartee and relationship talk. This strange amalgamation makes for some very funny and engaging stories, and I have really enjoyed reading this series and revisiting the comics in this version was very rewarding.  

Ambar and Alana are the titular sisters, and one day they discovered a pair of medallions on a beach and were transformed by the mysterious and mystical Madame Sosostris into masked super-beings to defend the fictional town of Las Brisas. That is, when they are not laying about the house, watching silent bee cartoons, and bickering, especially about Ambar's self-absorption or boyfriend Dirk. 

Together they deal with a motley crew of threats such as the saboteur 8Ball, Scope the assassin, Weird A.I. Ankhovic, Kreg the Handsome Barbarian, and Bridgette Spinner (say it out loud). These characters are a vivid and distinctive bunch, and a lot of the fun of this book is seeing just how ridiculous they and their villainous motivations are. The sisters often defeat them more out of personal reasons or irritation than altruism, and as they battle they are often engaged in side conversations about food, relationships, or sex acts. 

And there are lots of comics Easter eggs. Check out those teeth!

They also talk to lots of anthropomorphic animals, including a bunch of jerky forest animals and a know-it-all dolphin. These are some surreal, fun, and smart comics that have a lot going on but also trust the reader to catch onto what's happening without needing much context or backstory. I love the episodic way the tales are structured like classic Archie comics: each one is a celebration of comics, a burst of inventiveness and joy. And much like stones in a mosaic, cumulatively these stories depict a wonderfully realized fictional world.

This book's creators Greg & Fake collaborate between Chicago and Manzanillo, Mexico, respectively. Fake Petre is the writer and Greg the artist, and they also incorporate ideas and input from Graham Smith, Dave Landsberger, and Marc Koprinarov. G&F speak more about their origins and work in this interview. You can learn more about the series at its official website.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been full of praise. D. Morris opined, "It is a book that knows great comedy comes from putting well defined characters into absurd situations." Timothy Callahan wrote, "None of these three- to eight-pagers would feature in a Best American Comics anthology. But as a whole, the accumulation of details and comedic elements and relentlessness work to make this a highly entertaining comic." 

Santos Sisters was published by Fantagraphics, and they offer a preview and more about it here. This book is not for kids. 

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre

If I were writing an elevator pitch for this book, it'd be "American literature + kaiju +Universal monsters." It 's sort of like a US version of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, only more fun and slightly less horrific. The central conceit is that Godzilla attacked West Egg, and Jay Gatsby amasses all his resources to both repel the beast and impress his lost love Daisy Buchanan. 

The drama!

His G-Force pulls out all the stops to defeat the massive beast and going to the ends of the Earth to bring the fight. Along the way, a number of other prominent literary figures, including Sherlock Holmes, Captain Nemo, Dracula, and Frankenstein's monster join in the fray, some as friends others as foes. The result is some inspired madness. 

What I love about this book is that it portrays so much action and also sets up excellent cliffhangers. Certainly there are a good number of clever scenes and funny moments, but thrilling action is what drives the narrative. Most impressively it does so while also honoring the literary histories of the characters involved, so that the whole enterprise comes off organically. That is no mean trick to pull off, especially toward the end when a myriad number of characters have to be coordinated in an epic final battle royale. This book is a page-turner and the worst thing I can say about it is that it ends too abruptly for my liking. But they say to always leave the audience wanting more, yes?

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre was the product of Tom Scioli. He is a prolific comics creator who has made his own series such as  Gødland and American Barbarian as well as work-for-hire ones, including Fantastic Four: Grand Design. He has also drawn a number of licensed properties, including Transformers Vs. G.I. Joe and delved into nonfiction with graphic biographies of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. He speaks about his work on Monsterpiece Theatre in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been glowing. Frank Plowright wrote, "A gleeful absurdity prevails throughout yet the strength is evident via a story that would work if given an entirely straight treatment." Kara Dennison called it "a great deal of fun." Zack Quaintance wrote that it "is, simply put, one of the best comics of the year."

Godzilla's Monsterpiece Theatre was published by IDW, and there is more information about it here.

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia

When I was a kid, I could buy comic books at lots of places, including supermarkets, pharmacies, flea markets, department stores, and convenient stores. One memorable acquisition for me was Ambush Bug #3 that I got at the Cumberland Farms by my house. I was 12, and it contained a comedic mini-history of the DC Comics universe, including lots of Silver Age madness and strange things like Glop, Egg Fu, Itty, Mopee, and Julius Schwartz. A lot of what I read was unfamiliar but it fired me up to learn more about these fantastical and arcane cast of characters. 

This slice of history is a prologue to why I think Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia might also be a sort of gateway book. My first impression after reading it was to question its audience. I loved the book, but it's full of references that I get because I've read comic books for a very long time. I am all in for a dance battle between the Legion of Superheroes and the Legion of Substitute Heroes. I grin at appearances of Space Cabbie, Blue Devil, Mr. Mind, and Ultra the Ultra-Alien. I know the rules about engaging with Mister Mxyzptlk. And I think it's clever that Toyboy's robot minions have heads shaped like the Hall of Doom. And I feel these things might be lost on younger readers in ordinary circumstances, but the structure of this book has a layer of informational assistance in the form of mini-encyclopedia entries like this one:

Many of the obscure references get explained in quick fashion in a way that does not detract from the story. This book is as much an updated version of Who's Who for a new generation as it is its own adventure. The result is a fun romp through the DC Universe with a wonderful mix of the familiar and new. 

The main narrative is a sort of version of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, with Jimmy Olsen playing the Ford Prefect role. His presence is in a different appearance, as a black teen and not the original freckled faced, red-headed white boy, but the bones of his existence are still based on his many Silver Age shenanigans. When he is tasked with creating and propagating the Supercyclopedia by the New Gods, he gets some unwanted attention from the villainous Toyboy, who steals it and corrupts it into evil. And Jimmy is well suited to solving the problem by relying on his teen pals Rip Hunter and Linda Park and not simply calling in the Big Blue Boy Scout. 

The artwork conveys action as well as many fun moments, and it is jam-packed with Easter eggs for attentive readers. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope that it might attract some newer, younger attention to this vibrant cast of characters. From its cover paying homage to Flash #163 to its conclusion, this book is a love letter to the weird and wonderful DC Multiverse.

The Supercyclopedia is a collaboration between writer Gabe Soria and artist Sandy Jarrell. Soria writes all sorts of things, including books, comics, role-playing games, and album liner notes. He is the creator of the Sword & Backpack RPG, the Midnight Arcade series, and has also co-written the graphic novel Life Sucks. Jarrell has drawn lots of comics, including Meteor Men, Batman 66, and The Legendary Lynx.

I was not able to find many reviews of it online, but the one I did read was a rave: J. Caleb Mozzocco liked the book so much, he actually bought a physical copy (He works in a library so that is a big deal!). He also wrote, "If you're a DC Comics fan, or are just curious about the publisher, it's a real love letter to the company, its creators and its universe, filled with appearances of many less-seen characters (Warlord, Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew, Angel and The Ape) and intriguing reinventions of a handful of characters (Cain and Abel as TV horror hosts, Doc Magnus as a kid with action figure-sized Metal Men)."

Jimmy Olsen's Supercyclopedia was published by DC Comics, and they offer more info about it here.

Crowded, Volume 1

Crowd-sourcing is ubiquitous nowadays, but "10 minutes" in the future it will be even more pervasive. Crowded depicts this world in satirical, troubling, and exciting (because it's not happening to me) fashion. The narrative here follows Charlie Ellison, a gig-worker who wakes up one day to find that she is the target of a $1 million Reapr campaign. Reapr is an app where a person can legally order an assassination that has to happen within 30 days. For some reason, which she may or not be aware of, Charlie finds herself being attacked by all of the would-be assassins who come out of the woodwork to bump her off and cash in. 

Luckily for Charlie, there is also Dfend, an app for bodyguards. She is not super solvent, so she hires the lowest rated bodyguard, Vita. He is grouchy but surprisingly effective. He might actually be able to keep her safe for the 30-day term of the Reapr contract, but Charlie is kind of a wildcard who wants to make her own rules and complicates both their lives. The plot here is excellent, as the clash of personalities makes for great drama in and of itself, but there are also so many different plot twists that come from unshared secrets, wily would-be assassins, and disasters that make this book a real page-turner. The artwork equals the plotting, and it melds realism with a exaggerated, cartoonish style that conveys the action and emotion well. It also captures the flavor of a near-future world in a vibrant way. I loved this book, and it's a great hook for the rest of the series.

Crowded was written by Christopher Sebela and drawn by Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. Sebela has been nominated for four Eisner Awards, and Stein and Brandt have drawn a variety of comics for both DC and Marvel. All three creators speak about their work on Crowded in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Nicole Drum called it "the comic book equivalent of a viral video," adding, "It sucks you in and leaves you wondering what’s next all the while asking what that says about us." Brandon Lawrence described it, "Well written, well drawn, sets up a world, sates your appetite for action, and leaves you wanting more." You can read more reviews of the series at Comic Book Roundup.

Crowded was published by Image Comics. They have more info about this book and the next volumes in the series here. You can read the first issue, which is the first chapter of this trade paperback, here. This book features violence and profanity, so it is recommended for readers mature enough to handle them.

Tunnels

Tunnels is a splendid graphic novel, intricately plotted, expressively drawn, and colorfully executed. Its plot is complicated, and its characters bold, with each of them so focused on their desires that they do not see a bigger picture. The main character is Nili, an unemployed, single mother who strives to complete her archaeologist father's ultimate quest: to locate the Ark of the Covenant. Because of the onset of dementia, he had been removed from his academic position and is convalescing at home.

 "Aiding her" on her journey is her brother Broshi, but he is secretly in kahoots with Prof. Rafi Sarid, their father's ex-collaborator who is conniving to take the glory that comes with discovery for himself. He has dangled Broshi the prospect of tenure for information leading to locating the Ark, but he has no intentions to honor his deal. Also on the journey is Doctor, Nili's young son who wants nothing but to be left alone with games on a cell phone. The entire enterprise is bankrolled by Emil Abuloff, an antiquities dealer with a penchant for buying artifacts pilfered by ISIS. He is looking for a legitimate score to offset the ill-gotten gains he has made off of terrorists.  Doing the actual digging are two parties, first a team of sycophantic Jews led by Shmuel Gedanken and two Palestinian brothers, Mahdi and Zuzu  who dig the tunnel but want it for smuggling purposes. Gedanken also has in tow Aviva, a red cow that is to be slaughtered upon discovering the Ark.

If you have stuck with me thus far, you can see that there is much going on in this book character-wise. However, just as important as the characters is the setting, the contested lands in Israel and Palestine where huge walls and armed soldiers loom. At stake here are not just the fame that comes with discovery but also the power afforded to political and religious supremacy. Not to mention the fact the some of these people believe that possessing the Ark means that their forces will be unstoppable.

Despite all of these seriousness and intrigue of this quest, the book also features a sense of humor, full of Tintin-esque, colorful characters whose eyes and mouths frequently explode in cartoonish manner. Aviva the cow is also a wild-card, getting into all sorts of mischief and mucking things up. So, this books is a strangely balanced concoction of political jostling, family and academic drama, archaeological adventure, and farce. It is a fascinating, compelling, and substantial book, masterfully crafted and brilliantly illustrated. It also features an essay to close the book, where the author explains her intentions and narrative choices in great detail.

Tunnels was created by Rutu Modan, who has published two other graphic novels. Exit Wounds and The Property, in the US, with both winning Eisner Awards. She has also illustrated a number of picture books, created a variety of short comics, and edited the Hebrew edition of MAD magazine. She speaks about her work on Tunnels in this interview. This book was translated into English by Ishai Mishory.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Hillary Brown wrote that "all these characters are so flawed and fascinating and prickly. They’re predictable and unpredictable in equal parts, which makes them interesting to watch." Etelka Lehoczky opined, "Contemplating the shallowness and entitlement of Modan's characters, readers may wind up reflecting on their own." Rachel Cooke wrote, "Every page is gripping, every frame profoundly political."

Tunnels was published by Drawn & Quarterly, and they offer a preview and more here.

Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis

I have read a great many Usagi Yojimbo comics in the past, and consider it one of the modern masterpieces of the medium. Its creator Stan Sakai is one of the greats, who has been awarded pretty much every accolade a living cartoonist can receive, and here he and his wife Julie collaborate on a slightly different version of his classic character. Drawn in a cuter, more cartoony chibi art style, this version seems pitched at a younger audience, but it's still enjoyable for pretty much any age. The artwork is adorable but not juvenile and coupled with a well-crafted plot, which incorporates a number of story elements, including individual character moments, slapstick, quests, and battles. This book offers something for pretty much any reader. It does not talk down to its audience, and I got a big kick out of reading it.

The narrative here focuses on a trio of adventurers, Usagi, Gen, and Tomoe, who are out fishing for unagi (freshwater eels) when they rescue a creature in distress. The creature is an animated clay figure named Dogu, and it tells the trio that it has escaped from slave labor from the nefarious Salamander King. That villainous creature has captured Dogu's people and forced them to do his bidding, and of course our three heroes embark to free the village and defeat the Salamander King's army. This mission is fraught with peril, including shaky bridges, meandering forests, and the titular Heebie Chibis.

This story works well as a straight adventure story, but it also features strong characters who are almost instantly related to the readers as well as snappy dialogue. The situations themselves are based on traditional Japanese folklore, which are explained further in  the end sections of the book. It is fascinating to see how well the detailed fictional world depicted here matches up with real life creatures, creations, and beliefs. In addition, there is a short story at the end of the book where the usual version of Usagi Yojimbo meets the Chibi version, which not only works as a stand-alone tale but may also be a great gateway into the further adventures of the rabbit samurai.

This book is one of the best kids of all-ages fiction in the best sense of the world. I think its potential audience is a vast one, and I hope that this book sells bazillions of copies.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Ingrid Lind-Jahn wrote, "It’s an adventure story that has plenty of danger without being overly scary and emphasizes positives like friendship by example rather than explanation." Pharaoh Miles called it "an exciting story that any fan of any age can get into" and "easily the most accessible story involving this enigmatic protagonist."

Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis was published by IDW Publishing, and they offer more information about it here.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty!

 

Impossible Jones: Grin and Gritty! is a comic I supported via Kickstarter, and I am happy to have just read the book. It is a fun superhero tale about a thief named Isabelle who gets caught in some weird teleportation gizmo on a job, and days later she reappears altered, now with superpowers. She is a sort of combination of Plastic Man and Harley Quinn, and over the course of this book she learns more about her abilities and how to use them. She also has a pretty quick sense of humor, so although she experiences lots of danger she is pretty snarky about it all.

Impossible Jones can change her shape and appearance, which comes in handy for lots of the scrapes she finds herself in. Her first inclination is to go after her crew to get revenge for what happened to her, and as a result, she inadvertently gets affiliated with the local superheros of New Hope City. They are a motley bunch that include figures such as the Polecat, Even Steven, and Captain Lightning. Still not altogether altruistic, she thinks that the hero angle will provide her the perfect cover for occasional thefts, but she keeps getting thwarted by the schemes of villains like Mr. (Gila) Monster, Homewrecker, The Saint of Knives, and holiday-themed thief Holly Daze. 

As you can probably tell from this description, these comics are relatively light-hearted, action-dramas reminiscent of classic superhero tales. I would not call this book all ages, though my 5-year-old was very curious about it and kept sneaking over my shoulder to read it along with me. I think that the stories are well told, the world-building solid, and the characters appropriately colorful and interesting. I am particularly intrigued to see what will come of Even Steven, an enigmatic character who seems to be incredibly powerful and visually inspired by Steve Ditko-created characters like The Question. 

There were many moving parts in this book, and I found each of the four chapters to be exciting, engaging, and suspenseful. The ending is entirely open-ended, begging for more tales to be told in this universe. Impossible Jones is good, mostly clean, superheroic fun.

The main creators involved with this book are writer Karl Kesel and artist David Hahn. Kesel is a veteran of the comics industry since the 1980s as a writer and inker, having done the majority of his work at DC Comics on characters like Superman and Harley Quinn. Hahn is another comics veteran, best known for his work on the Bite Club series as well as Batman '66. Both creators speak about their collaboration on Impossible Jones in this interview.

I was not able to find many reviews for this book, but what I did find has been very positive. Edo Bosner wrote in the most direct way, “It’s really fun, you should read it.” It currently has a 4.6 (of of 5) star rating on Goodreads.

Impossible Jones: Grin & Gritty! was published by Panic Button Press, and they offer more info about it here. There is a Kickstarter for a follow-up comic book in this series happening right now.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Volume 1

I grew up reading a lot of Archie Comics, and I have a soft spot for those characters. In the recent decade, Archie has been doing a lot of work to update these characters, bringing in some high caliber creators to do so. Although Sabrina the Teenage Witch has never been one of my favorite titles, I am very taken with the creative team here, especially writer Kelly Thompson and artists Veronica and Andy Fish. I have to say that this series delivered some top notch entertainment.

This series, originally published as 5 issues, has everything I want from a Sabrina comic: high school drama, mysterious monsters, moments of genuine suspense, magic, modern-day witches, and a snarky, talking cat.

It even kicks some of these features up a notch, but I won't spoil things here by saying how. Suffice it to say that Sabrina is the new girl at Greendale High School, which attracts some wanted attention from a couple of love-lorn boys, Harvey and Ren, as well as unwanted attention from mean-girl Radka. As Sabrina settles in, makes some friends, and gets acquainted with high school life, she also finds herself the target of attacks from magical beasts that roam not only the woods but the high school. Unraveling this mystery detracts from her academics, but when her aunts get involved Sabrina finds she has to bail them out as well.

As I wrote earlier, I love this creative team, and they bring so much to this book. Thompson writes lots of clever dialogue but also spins a compelling mystery/horror plot with style. The Fish art team creates ambiances that suit the humor/drama of high school while also portraying some frightening beasts and appropriately spooky magical events. The coloring also plays a big part in creating appropriate tones that make the artwork dazzling. This book was thoroughly entertaining, and I recommend it for fans of YA horror or supernatural fantasy.

Thompson has written a bunch of comics series for various publishers over the past few years, and some of my favorites include Hawkeye, West Coast Avengers, Captain Marvel, and Nancy Drew. Veronia and Andy Fish have collaborated on a number of comics projects, including a few other Archie series and the horror series Blackwood. Thompson talks about her work on this Sabrina series in this interview.

Reviews I have read about this book have been generally positive. Nick Smith called it "an excellent restart to this classic series." J. Caleb Mozzocco wrote, "Thompson and artists Veronica Fish and Andy Fish are telling what is basically an adventure comic, with character-driven humor, drama, and yes, plenty of cool-looking monsters, but never so much of any of those elements that they threaten to overwhelm the comic and push it into another genre." Oliver Sava opined, "There’s a lot of potential in this new take, but also room for improvement."

Sabrina the Teenage Witch was published by Archie Comics, and they offer a preview and more here. A sequel series titled Something Wicked has recently been published.

Investigators

As a professor at UTK and a grad of UGA, I have an antipathy for gators. But Investigators is utterly charming and hilarious, and 5-year-old is currently obsessed with it to boot. It stars two gators named Mango and Brash who are agents of Special Undercover Investigation Teams (SUIT). You can tell them apart by their jawlines and coloring. Mango's jaw is round and he is dark green, while Brash is lighter green and has a square jaw. Clad in their high-tech Very Exciting Spy Technology (VEST), they go into action to solve some extraordinary cases. In this book they are trying locate a famous cupcake baker named Gustavo Mustachio, who has gone missing for two weeks, and suspect foul play. 

Also, they want to foil a villain who has stolen a device that digitizes physical money and automatically deposits it electronically. It even works through walls, which makes it especially harmful. It might not be so much a spoiler that these two cases eventually intersect.

As you might tell from the names of devices and agencies, this book is full of puns, and Mango is very fond of them, too. The back and forth conversations and sound effects are frequently funny. This book is also full of pop culture references and snappy dialogue, and the sum of all these things makes it a fun book to read aloud. There is also some potty humor, as the agents' main mode of transportation is flushing themselves down into sewers.

Adding to the fun visually is a wild array of characters and character designs. There is a triceratops escape artist named Houdino. There is a villainous crocodile who is part baked good named Crackerdile. There is a giant chicken who is also a scientist/inventor named Dr. Doodledoo. There is also Doctor Copter, a brain surgeon who was bitten by a rabid helicopter and who is compelled to transform into a helicopter to cover anything especially newsworthy. There is lots of whimsy and invention at play in this book, and my 5-year-old is really taken by this motley assortment of characters. He especially wants to read and re-read the chapters that tell Dr. Copter and Crackerdile's origin stories.

The end-papers also have a few bonus features, including a guide on how to draw the main characters, which my son is very into. Altogether, this book has lots to offer in terms of readers young and old. It is fun to read together. It has vibrant, unique characters. The plot is off-the-wall and the dialogue laugh-out-loud funny. It truly is a great graphic novel for all ages, which is a pretty hard trick to pull off.

This book was created by John Patrick Green. I enjoyed his first graphic novel Hippopatomister, and he has also drawn a number of other books for children as well as the mini-comic Teen Boat! written by Dave Roman. He speaks about the origins of the Investigators series in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been positive. Kirkus Reviews concluded that it was "silly and inventive fast-paced fun." Publishers Weekly called it "fast-paced fun for the bad pun and dorky joke crowd: 'Now let’s flush ourselves down the nearest toilet and GATER DONE!'" Kate Quealy-Gainer wrote, "While the art is a bit more sophisticated than Pilkey’s Dogman, the tone is the same, and those waiting for the next installment of that series may want to spend time with this weird reptilian pair."

Investigators was published by First Second, and they offer a preview and more here. A sequel is due to be published at the end of the month.

Eve Stranger

Eve Stranger is a book totally up my alley. It tells the tale of a young woman named Eve Stranger who wakes up once every week alone in a hotel room. She has no memory of the recent past and is surrounded by a used syringe, a gun, a stuffed animal, a notebook where she explains to herself some basic facts, a package containing some assignment, and unlimited credit. If and when anything untoward happens, when she tries to report it to the police she finds the scene completely cleaned up with no evidence of her presence. When she goes to the doctor to give blood, it eats a hole through the beaker. Put simply, this book contains all sort of mysteries to unravel.

Getting to the bottom of her existence and mysterious employers is only part of the fun of this book. It is well plotted, with lots of clues along the way that add up to a satisfying solution. But her missions, which include fast motorcycles, a jet-pack, running with the bulls in Pamplona, contending with a twenty-foot-tall gorilla, and assassinating a potential future tyrant are all fast-paced, madcap adventures full of hand-to-hand combat, chases, and interesting twists. 

 

Finally, I love the artwork done by two of my favorite artists. The main narrative was rendered by Philip Bond, whose work I have been following since I was a teenager on vacation in Greece, reading translated British comics. His style is cool, full of stylish, stylistically unique people and tiny details that pop and also crack me up. He does great spreads that feature action and battle scenes in excellent fashion. 

The second feature in each chapter (or issue, as this book originally appeared as a five-issue limited series) is a sort of comic strip by Liz Prince, where Eve is an intrepid girl reporter. These stories are more frivolous and surreal but also contain more clues about her identity that comment on the main narrative. Combined, the two strands make for intriguing, fascinating storytelling.

My biggest criticism of this book is that I feel it was a fun, wild ride that ended too quickly. Certainly, it ends in a way that seems to beg for a sequel, but unfortunately this is the last book published under the Black Crown imprint. I hope it does well enough to get picked up elsewhere, because I'd love to read more Eve Stranger adventures from this creative team.

Joining Bond and Prince in this collaboration is writer David Barnett. He is a novelist who has also written a number of comics for DC and IDW, notably the series Punk's Not Dead. Bond is known for his work with Deadline and the Vertigo Imprint, especially for the one-shot Kill Your Boyfriend. I have read and reviewed lots of Prince's books, including Tomboy and Be Your Own Backing Band.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been positive. Clyde Hall wrote in his spoiler-filled review that there is a "bright Britpop..spirit" that "buoys Eve Stranger above mere Noir." Bruno Savill De Jong called it "a satisfying and exhilarating read that is worth remembering." Max Beaulieu called it a "fun series," adding that Eve is "a mix of vulnerable and badass, childlike and mature, driven and yet romantic."

Eve Stranger was published by Black Crown, and they offer previews and more about the series here.

The Wrong Earth, Volume 1

This month, I am going to focus more on books I read "for fun." It's July, and I am not currently teaching so why not? Today, I am looking at a book from a relatively new imprint that has featured a bunch of titles I was interested in. This book, The Wrong Earth, treads on some familiar ground but in a surprising, fresh, and fun way. It stars a character named Dragonfly, a Batman analogue who fights crime and in this instance a villain named Number One (a Joker analogue).

Actually, it stars two different characters who use those names, only one pair lives on Earth-Alpha (think the bright cheery 1966 TV version of Batman) and the other on Earth-Omega, which is more grim-and-gritty and violent, akin to more contemporary takes on the characters. When a portal allows each pair to switch worlds, they find themselves in very unfamiliar territory.

On Earth-Alpha, the grim hero finds support from the police, more colorful adversaries, and a living sidekick. On Earth-Omega, the cheerful Dragonfly finds he is hunted by the police, faces brutality at every turn, and multiple deaths of loved ones. What makes this book work in many ways is how it treats these fish-out-of-water scenarios, and I really enjoyed seeing how each pair adapts to their new surroundings. There are multiple twists and turns that make for engaging reading, and I found it very easy to get swept up in the superheroic action. This is one entertaining comic book adventure.

A feature that helps sell this series so well is the obvious love and reverence the creators have for the source material. Writer Tom Peyer hops between the light/dark narratives with elan, he has obvious affection for the dual versions that brings out the best in both. Dragonflyman might be campy but he's not ridiculous, and Dragonfly might be hardened but he still has a heart. And the supporting characters are all full of surprises. The artwork similarly oscillates between styles in a loving and expressive way. Earth-Alpha is more colorful and cheery, with simpler line work while Earth-Omega is more dark and cross-hatched. Still, artist Jamal Igle is paying more homage to the source material rather than parodying it.

Joining Peyer and Igle on art duties are Juan Castro and Gary Erskine as well as colorist Andy Troy. They are all industry veterans with tons of credits in comic books. Peyer is also the editor-in-chief of Ahoy Comics, and he and Igle speak about their work on The Wrong Earth in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this series have been positive. Jeffrey Bracey opined, "This idea is just delightful and is handled in spectacular fashion by the creators." Lenny Schwartz wrote, "Peyer does a great job of writing the two worlds without cynicism. Instead , he writes with love and respect for the eras he is writing about." Publishers Weekly concluded, "This series contains more entertainment than most contemporary comics and serves to remind readers of what they were always intended to be: fun."

The Wrong Earth was originally published as 6 issues by Ahoy Comics, and they offer previews and more info about the trade paperback collection here. A prequel to the series Dragonfly and Dragonflyman has also been published. I am looking forward to sequels!