Barbaric Book One: Murderable Offenses

Sometimes you just need to read some fun genre fiction, and Barbaric is just that. The star of this fantasy series, Owen the barbarian, starts out as a typical ruffian, drinking, fighting, and enjoying all sorts of carnal desires. However, he runs afoul of a trio of witches who curse him to only do good for the rest of his life, saddling him with an enchanted, talking axe (named Axe, of course) who constantly craves the blood of evil-doers. Together this terrible duo has a streak of misadventures, applying justice in their own warped way, with Axe constantly yakking Owen's ears off.

As their journeys continue, they pick up a motley assortment of allies and rack up quite the body count. What I loved about this book is how weird it is, with Axe explaining its strange sense of justice that determines just who is and isn't worthy of slaying. And there is also witty wordplay that complements the gore and nudity, making this book into a fun, engaging adventure. What is more, there are three subsequent volumes as well as some related series, which I have also read and enjoyed. So if this book is to your liking, you have more in store.

This book was written by Michael Moreci, drawn by Nathan Gooden, colored by Addison Duke, and lettered by Jim Campbell. Moreci is a screenwriter and author known for his comics series The Plot and Wasted Space as well as the movie Revealer. Gooden is a co-founder of Vault Comics and is involved in developing a number of series, including Post Malone's Big Rig. Duke began his career as a production artist, and Campbell has lettered a good number of comics, including The Great British Bump-Off. Moreci speaks about his work on the development of the series in this interview. 

Certainly, this series has a specific audience, and the reviews I have read about it have been positive. Brad Gullickson penned the memorable line, "If Gooden's art does not belong in a museum it sure as hell belongs on the side of a van." Matt wrote, "The prudish will not approve, but fans of dark fantasy will love it and eagerly anticipate Barbaric, vol. 2."

Barbaric Book One was published by Vault Comics, and they offer a preview and more information about the series here. This book contains profanity, gore, nudity, violence, and is suggested for adult readers.

Fangbone! 2: The Egg of Misery

The adventures of Fangbone the third grade barbarian continue, as he is still in our dimension guarding an artifact that prevents the evil wizard Drool from gaining ultimate power in his world. This time around he has to deal with an evil ghost, shopping at the grocery store, dung trolls, and performing with class 3G in an Extinction Pageant, where they are expected to come up with a skit about the dodo. Also, Drool's minions have managed to send an egg to Fangbone. He thinks the egg is from his allies and that it contains a powerful dragon that will help him defend himself. Little does he know that the egg is designed to bring him nothing but misery.

This second volume continues the adventures of class 3G, although it spends less time fleshing out the classmates, relying on the reader to recall the characters from the first book. There is also the requisite gross-out humor, this time in the form of Fangbone's foul feet, which are an offensive in more ways than one. Additionally, the themes of teasing and bullying come up, with Fangbone being the aggressor (at least in regard to describing Drool's childhood). Even the kids of 3G get into the act when they gain the upper hand on one of their former tormentors. I guess I should expect a young barbarian and his friends to be rough around the edges, and their characterization makes them more human and less stock characters.

Michael Rex continues to please with his comical and expressive art style. His facial expressions and action sequences especially stand out as strengths in his work. I very much enjoyed the energy and pacing of this book. He has written a number of other humorous titles for children, among them the parody Goodnight Goon.

Reviews of this book I have seen online have been positive. Wired Magazine's GeekMom Nicole Wakelin wrote about both books that they contained "a heavy dose of gross kid’s humor, the kind that makes adults roll their eyes and smile, and makes kids break out in hysterics." She also added that this series "was as fun for the kids to read as it was for me." Win Wiacek praised the book as "wry, sly, irreverent and, crucially, spoofing contemporary sources and situations." snow at the Unshelved Book Club appreciated Rex's "off-beat sense of humor." Tanya at books4yourkids also has a detailed, enthusiastic review of the first two books that is full of spoilers.

The Egg of Misery was published by Putnam Juvenile. Here is a preview from Amazon.

For those interested in Fangbone's further adventures, Book 3 of this series has just been published.

Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian, Volume 1

I was slightly surprised to find this book on the magazine shelf of a supermarket in New Windsor, New York, so I snapped it up to see what it was about. It turns out that this is the first book in a series - the second book is already out and a third is on the way. The premise here is that Skullbania, a land of barbarians, is under attack by the vile villain, Venomous Drool. In order to protect themselves from his armies of ghouls they have to send a volunteer away with the magical artifact Drool needs to rule the world. The young and brave Fangbone volunteers and is transported across dimensions to our world, where he must blend in as best he can. Of course, he ends up enrolled in an elementary school, and Homeroom 3G will never be the same again...

Michael Rex created, wrote and drew this graphic novel aimed at 2nd and 3rd graders. He is best known for his humorous children's books, including the parodies Goodnight Goon, Furious George Goes Bananas, and The Runaway Mummy. Rex elaborates more about his life and work in this interview.

Fangbone! does resemble other children books, notably the Captain Underpants series, with its sense of humor. So it is somewhat juvenile and gross. Tanya at books4yourkids.com had much praise for the book and its sequel in her spoiler-filled and enthusiastic review.  Elizabeth Bird praised the humor and references in the book, describing it as "a story where a stranger comes to town bearing a toe (not his own) and brings together a ragtag group of misfits. It’s like Shane meets The Bad News Bears with some hound-snakes and dirt devils thrown in for spice."  Kirkus Reviews had a different take on the book and harshly commented that "this series opener offers little novelty" but that it "may hold some appeal for young boys seeking hijinks over highbrow literature."

When I cracked this book, I did not expect to be as entertained as I was. The way that Fangbone and the students in 3G (the "special" class) get along is hilarious, realistic enough, and quite fun. The ways that they teach him about our world and he teaches them about being brave and sticking up for themselves are a little bit of a cliche, but I did not care so much because they were so well pitched. Regular readers and my friends can gauge just how juvenile I am, but I thought this book was enjoyable on many fronts.

 Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian is published by Penguin Juvenile. The author provides a video preview of the book here on his blog.