Good Comics for Kids   

Boom! Studios controls the list again this week, with two Disney/Pixar titles and two Muppet titles.  Mr. Stuffins is a new addition to the list, as I was unsure if I was age appropriate, but I finally found some confirmation of it's kid-friendliness.  It's about a teddy bear the comes to life and believes he is a secret agent.  It has a kid-friendly premise, but that's not always a guarantee.  Dark Horse also premieres a new kids line of classic tales that perfect for the youngest readers.

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Rod Espinosa Prince Of Heroes Chapter 2 #4, $3.99

ARCHIE COMICS
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #172, $3.99
Jughead And Friends Digest #33, $2.69
Veronica #195, $2.50

BONGO COMICS
Simpsons Super Spectacu...Read More

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This old adage is printed on t-shirts, mugs, and bumper stickers. And it’s so true. Especially in the life of a reviewer or someone who works closely with books, because amidst all your work, you’re constantly reaching for the newest titles and letting some of the older titles slip to the bottom of the pile. Somehow, we never get to the bottom, because there’s always something new to add to the top.  That’s where the GC4K’s Summer Reading Challenge was born.

Actually, it started with my inventorying and reorganization of my graphic novel collection at the end of the school year.  I was ha...Read More

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Dinosaurs with garlic breath. Surgeons with attitude. Crime-fighting kids. Crime-fighting flies. Recycled super robots -- these are just a few of the characters we've encountered this spring. Below, you'll find the complete list of titles we reviewed last quarter, an index that's divided into three broad categories: Comics (essentially, the titles you'd find on the spinner rack at your local comic book store), Graphic Novels, and Manga. We encourage you to follow the links, read the reviews, and give us feedback on our recommendations, especially if the kids and teens in your life beg to differ with us. N.B. Age guidelines and publication information (author, full title, publisher, price, ISBN) are included in every review.

COMICS
Lockjaw and the...Read More

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This is it, this is the moment that Binky has been training for--he has finally been deemed Space Cat Qualified by Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (F.U.R.S.T.). Now he can live up to his true destiny, defending his humans against the scourge of bug...er, alien invasion.

Binky the Space Cat
Ashley Spires
Ages 7-10, Grades 2-5
Kids Can Press, August 2009, ISBN 978-1-55453-309-1(hc)/978-1-55453-419-7(pb)
64 pages, $16.95(hc)/$7.95(pb)

Spires' graphic novel is a treat for anyone who's ever dreamed of the glory of being an astronaut, as well as anyone who has ever loved a cat. Kids will laugh at the silliness of Binky's quest, knowing that bugs aren't really aliens, but also knowing that cats can't re...Read More

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They say attitude is everything.  You tell a Teen that, and you're going to get eyes rolled at you.  But seeing is often believing, and this title, An Ideal World, just might get some believers. This Chinese comic tells a familiar story but without feeling like it's all been done before.  Great characters, a fantastic world and some artwork to match make for a very entertaining and fun adventure.

An Ideal World
By Chao Peng & Weidong Chen
Age Rating: Teen
Yen Press, March 2009, ISBN: 978-0-7595-2942-7
162 pgs, $12.99

Ayou thinks he's a loser.  He's not very smart.  He works a dead end job as a forklift operator at a book plant with no dreams or aspirations.   He thinks ...Read More

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One of the most anticipated sequels in my library was Jellaby: Monster in the City.  I lost count of how many times students would come asking for a sequel.  Some of my frequent flyers would ask when the next book was coming out two or three times a month.  While hearing the same question over and over again is a little bit irritation, the delight in seeing children excited about one book is really no match for said irritation.  Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to buy the sequel to Jellaby in time for the end of the school year.  But come September, I know those who constantly asked me about this title will not be disappointed.

...Read More

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Here's another shocked mom story, but this one stays well within the bounds of reason: Yvette Spivock of North Carolina picked up some Batman comics for her kids at a libary book sale and, reasoning that Batman comics are for kids, didn't bother to check every single page. That's how she missed the nude wrestling match between Batgirl and Catwoman—but her kids found it. Spivock didn't blow her top or demand that all Batman comics be removed from every library, everywhere, which is refreshing; she just suggested the library be a bit more careful in future. They're even keeping the comic. The DC folks say the series is for 16+ readers and that they often put a star on the cover of kid-friendly comics; my question would be how a busy non-comics-reading mom is supposed to know that, especially if there are no starr...Read More

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Determining if a title is appropriate to go on this list is difficult most times, as many publishers don't give age ratings, or as in Marvel's case, has different rating system.  I tend to miss some titles since they use a four tiered system, so you'll notice two new titles on the list, one that has been going on for a while, but may be welcome to those who have to deal with Wolverine fans.  Wolverine First Class is for tweens (9-12), and will let them get their Wolverine fix without grown-ups having to worry.  IDW has some new books for the younger kids, and Archie is slowing moving up to the much anticipated #600.

ARCHIE COMICS
Archie #598, $2.50
Archie Digest #255, $2.69
Sonic Universe #5, $2.50

BONGO COMICS
Bart Simpson Comics #48, $2.99
...Read More

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While cons now occur year round, traditionally they have been summer events.  Coming up in the next month are some of the biggest cons for fans of comics and manga.  July kicks off with Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA, the middle is filled with Otakon on the east coast in Baltimore MD, and ends with the San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, CA, which is celebrating 40 years this year. 

Maybe you or your kids have shown an interest in attending one of these, or one of the many smaller cons that happen all over the country, but you've never been to a genre convention before.  What do you do?  What should you expect?  And what about the kids?  I've been going to cons since I was a Tween, and have been taking my own ki...Read More

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It's a good mix of comics, graphic novels and manga this week.  Graphix has more Bone GNs, and Harper Collins keeps their Warriors fanbase happy with another volume of original story manga.  Image Comics has a book for the little kids about one of their favorite subjects, dinosaurs!  Marvel has an interesting reference handbook for older tweens or anyone who loves the animals of the Marvel Universe.  Marvel Pets Handbook is be a good companion to the Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers title.

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Jarrett J. Krosoczka is serving up not one but two Lunch Lady graphic novels next month, and there are more waiting on the warming table. I interviewed him for Graphic Novel Reporter, where he discussed not just the new books but his career as a picture book creator as well.

And at Publishers Weekly Comics Week, I talk to Brian Leung about his kids' webcomics portal Kidjutsu.

The Archie folks post another batch of previews of their upcoming comics as well...Read More

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Many kids greet summer reading lists with as much enthusiasm as they would a plate of brussel sprouts, viewing anything that smacks of "homework" as an encroachment on their vacation. Yet it's vitally important that they read over the summer to continue developing their reading comprehension skills. With that in mind, Robin Brenner, Esther Keller, Lori Henderson, Scott Robins, and I compiled a list of books that emphasize fun and fantasy over serious topics. Our goal: to encourage kids to view reading as a recreational activity that just happens to engage their imagination, rather than something they must or ought to do. The list includes a variety of titles, from action-oriented manga to comic strip anthologies to graphic novels for beginning readers. We welcome your feedback on our suggestions, and encourage you to add your own in the commen...Read More

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