Each one of us, to some degree knows a Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy. Laser Moose is a moose who lives in the forest. He’s strong, intelligent, does the right thing and can shoot lasers from his eyes. Rabbit Boy is his best friend. He’s eternally optimistic, sometimes a little too trusting but can pull it together to make things turn out OK. Even before you open it Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy from Doug Savage makes you smile.
Readers can only see the outlines of the critters in the forest, but it’s a high probability that they’re up to no good. Laser Moose is tromping through the woods about to jump through some bushes and Rabbit Boy is riding on top of him as if he’s riding a wild bull, but having the time of his life with a massive grin. Thankfully for readers the stories take that potential laid out on the cover and magnify it inside the book with fun creatures like an aquabear, mechasquirrel and semi-friendly aliens from outer space.
Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy has three stories in it that are perfect illustrations of what an 8 year old is looking for in a graphic novel. Our 7 year old can read everything in the graphic novel, but isn’t quite old enough to laugh out loud to it yet. Ages 8 and up will immediately catch the humor that eludes the younger set and enjoy every minute of this book.
Some examples of the humor are when Laser Moose accidentally shooting Frank the moose’s leg off. They have a conversation about not lurking in the bushes before Rabbit Boy suggests that Frank should see the doctor. After that they see Aquabear, the creature that was created when a bear, with a fish in his mouth fell into a pool of toxic waste. Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy then need to get some honey to lure the creature someplace safe.
What’s great about Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy for young readers is that it combines two key aspects of our favorite comic books into one, utterly original creation. It has the fun art of The Simpsons. Moose, rabbit and their forest friends are fun and radiate happiness. It’s a happy world they live in that’s packed with an undercurrent of adventure. It also has the fantastically weirdness of Adventure Time, but it’s toned down just a bit. Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy is simpler than that, but still very silly for young readers and maniacally happy for anyone.
A bonus for parents is that Laser Moose is priced at $9.99. This is a thick, all color graphic novel that’s printed on high quality paper. It’s a very fun read that kids (and you) will laugh at many times and given placement in your graphic novel library with moose and rabbit pride.