April 1, 2017 | Page 2 of 3

New all age comics for April 19, 2017

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It’s just over three weeks until Free Comic Book Day. That is May 6^th at your local comic book store where they’ll have lots of free all age comics, they’re new, some are full size, some are mini-comics and each store will probably limit you to 5 per customer. So what’s new this week for young readers? Two of our favorite all comics are out this week, as are lots of superheroes and the final issue of a really cool princess series. Here are five of the more interesting or go-to all age comics that your young readers need to know about.

Mega Princess #5

It’s a princess tale where she saves the frogs who had previously been princes. Mega Princess is from Boom! Studios and is loaded with laughes, goofy action, just enough evil to latch in older readers who will enjoy this series. This is issue #5, the final one in this mini-series and is appropriate for ages 5 and up.

Dark Horse Presents Volume 3, #33

Too Much Coffee Man made us do it. Dark Horse Presents Volume 3, #33 is an anthology with six short stories from creators that few kids will know, but adults will appreciate. This comic is for teens, but it’s worth mentioning due to Too Much Coffee Man by Shannon Wheeler. This comic is in the same league as Life In Hell because its droll, effective humor and variety in presentation. Adults will love the humor in this character if they’re not already familiar with him.

Justice League Power Rangers, #4

This is easily one of the best all age comics of the year. The action that happens in Justice League Power Rangers is OK for ages 6 and up, with vocabulary that age 7 and up will be able to read on their own. It’s also refreshing to see the Power Rangers hold their own with a franchise that often steals their limelight

Teen Titans Go!

The Titan’s tower has been condemned and Control Freak is up to no good. Where can the team hold up? Our 5 and 7 year old kids love this show and the comic book. Teen Titans Go! is only $2.99 and from DC Comics

Jim Henson’s Power of the Dark Crystal

Jim Henson’s Power of the Dark Crystal will most likely not be your child’s favorite all ages comic. However, it is one of the best all age comic books. This is a 12 issue, fantasy mini-series from Boom! Studios that will be attractive to middle Earth kids who are 10 or older. The art in this comic is top notch and one that fans of the Dark Crystal will immediately bond with.

The music from Free Music Archive that’s used in this week’s podcast is from Julie Maxwell’s Piano Music. She also does some cosplay, translates Japanese, is a photographer and entrepreneur. Now-on with this week’s all age comics!

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science Fiction

Hilda and The Stone Forest is timeless, top tier book/graphic novel

For us, Hilda and The Stone Forest is like meeting someone for the first time who we’ve seen at parties and seems really cool. Then, when you meet them, you realize that they are even nicer and cooler than you thought they were and you kick yourself for not meeting them earlier. I’ve read a couple of short Hilda stories that were printed on Free Comic Book Day and did like them, but simply never got around to reading one of Luke Pearson’s books. That’s worth noting because there are some existing characteristics and story elements to Hilda, but they are not necessary to know to fully enjoy The Stone Forest.

The first thing that will grab reader’s attention is the art by Luke Pearson. Once you see Hilda you will not forget her. She’s immediately memorable and Trolberg, the world where she lives is rich with detail, various sized creatures and a European landscape that makes you want to be a resident there. Each page has art that feels like a comic strip, but is laid out with various sized panels and illustrations. Some of these even overlap each other so as to give the reader momentum as the story progresses. This effect also enhances the creativity and sense of wonder that Hilda has in engaging with her adventures.

Continue reading Hilda and The Stone Forest is timeless, top tier book/graphic novel

Mosquitoes Can’t Bite Ninjas, simple ninja fun for 6 and under

Mosquitoes and ninjas are things that are loathed and loved by children. One can ruin a summer’s day simply by hearing its high pitch squeal and the other can capture children’s imaginations and eluding everything else. Combine the two into a children’s picture book and you’ve got Mosquitoes Can’t Bite Ninjas by Jordan P. Novak.

Mosquitoes Can’t Bite Ninjas is a silly book that’s seemingly made for summer and those young readers who are 6 and under. The entire book takes place in a neighborhood with a sneaky and hungry mosquito looking for his next prey. We see the swimmer, chef, old lady and baby all being bitten by everyone’s go-to summer buzz kill, the mosquito.

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The Secret Project, a most unlikely picture book for upper elementary

Imagine a book written about the most destructive thing that man has ever created. Now imagine a book written about a device that saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of lives and ended a world war. Depending on your perspective, both situations are correct in one of the most unlikely picture books you’ll ever read. The Secret Project is the story about the scientists that worked under deep secrecy to create their ‘gadget’, the Atomic Bomb.

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New all age comics for April 12, 2017

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Gird your loins because Free Comic Book Day is just over three weeks away. It’s the first Saturday in May, which falls on the sixth this year and it’s a chance to get free comics. We’ll have more on that in the coming weeks. That is worth mentioning because there are lots of great all age comics that are available for new comic book day, which is every Wednesday, as well as Free Comic Book Day. There are new comics and graphic novels that will appeal to readers aged 5 and up. We’ll also take a look at two titles that will interest and be appropriate for teen readers. Here are five of the more interesting or go-to all age comics that your young readers need to know about.

The Amazing Crafty Cat

The Amazing Crafty Cat is an original graphic novel that looks like the cutest thing we’ve seen in a while. Girls will enjoy this book more than boys, mainly because it’s the story about a little girl that uses crafts to get herself out of problems. Her alter ego, who can craft like nobody’s business is The Amazing Crafty Cat. Expect fun for ages 4-9, the older ones will able to read it by themselves, while the younger ones will need assistance as a good night book.

Spongebob Comics: Silly Sea Stories

Spongebob Comics is one of the go-to all age comics that you can pick up any month. Spongebob Comics: Silly Sea Stories is volume 1 of previously released classic stories from under the sea. These stories vary in their length, artwork and presentation. Some will be as short as one page, whereas others might be 13 pages. The variety in these stories is what really makes Spongebob Comics fun. This is art in all age comics that will help young readers accept different interpretations of things that they are familiar with. You’ll still have trouble with them eating their vegetables.

Guardians of the Galaxy

There are two Guardians of the Galaxy comic books out this week. Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy is the one that’s great for ages as young as 5. This is action, humor and at only $2.99 it’s a treat for the wallet too.

My Little Pony: Legends of Magic

My Little Pony is one of the classic all age comics. Legends of Magic is a new title featuring My Little Pony. This is back to basics Equestria with new stories, classic characters and back story that old fans don’t know. Most importantly, it’s a great jumping on point for new readers, written by Jeremy Whitley who has done MLP, in addition to his own creations for years.

Disney Princess Comics

This graphic novel is for the girls. Disney Princess Comics Collection Volume 2 collects issues 5-8 of the monthly Disney Princess series from Joe Books. Name any Disney Princess and they’re in here, these are funny stories that ages 5 and up will laugh at.

Humor

Superhero

Action/science fiction

Smurfs The Lost Village, better than you think and good for the kids

Know your role. My wife and I use that phrase as a way to slyly accept our greatest strengths and to play to them. In our case it’s not meant as a pejorative, rather a rallying cry to do something, establish a goal of doing better, as well as a subtle reminder that we can’t be great at everything. Smurfs: The Lost Village knows its role. After two previous films that brought the Smurfs to the big screen in a CGI/live action format, Smurfs The Lost Village is 100% animated.

It’s good animation, visually on par with a major motion picture. Because of that it looks world’s better than the TV counterpart that old school fans will remember and even the 2013 television short, The Smurfs: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

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Secrets of the Seven: The Eagle’s Quill review

One of our favorite books of 2016 was Secrets of The Seven: The Eureka Key. It was a literary version of the Goonies with ties of National Treasure about a group of teen genius’ who were selected to solve puzzles, fight bad guys and preserve historical artifacts. That book left us very eager for the second one in the series. With Secrets of the Seven: The Eagle’s Quill the gang is back, but the book lacks a certain zip and charm that made the first one so much fun.

The first chapter starts off with the team bickering. They’re on the way to Glacier National Park to find the second in a series of seven ancient artifacts. When combined these artifacts are suppose to unlock a secret weapon that was created by the founding fathers. The artifacts are being protected by ancestors of the founding fathers and they’re being pursued by Gideon Arnold, descendant of Benedict Arnold.

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New all age comics for April 5, 2017

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Now THIS is a good week for all age comics. If you went to the comic book store looking for new books for all age readers and were left wanting more then get back on the horse. Classics, to true classics to new ones that the kids will love are all represented this week. Here are five great all age comics that will interest readers as young as five.

Angry Birds: Flight School #2

Adults who are new to the all age comics scene might scoff at the concept of a video game becoming a comic book. Then they’ll read one of the Angry Birds titles, realize that there is real comedy in these comics and re-think their position. Angry Birds: Flight School is a new spin of mini-series that’s quite entertaining and will leave all ages wanting more. The vocabulary is too difficult for a 5 year old, but the content is great for a read-along book.

Donald Duck/ Mickey Mouse

These two are mentioned together because their reading level, as well as enjoyment level is very similar for ages 7 and up. We read Mickey Mouse to our 5 year old at night and he loves to follow along to the pictures. The stories in both titles might have been previously published in Europe. That’s evident from some of the background art that looks more classic that suburban. However, that fact won’t influence young readers who want to laugh along to adventures with classic Disney characters.

Revolution Aw Yeah #1

Revolution gets the Art Baltazar treatment. His distinct art style is what many consider the template for all age comics. This is the first issue that follows some key IDW properties like G.I. JOE, Micronauts, Transformers and more. Revolution Aw Yeah #1 is good for ages 5 and up.

Scooby Doo-Where Are You? #80

Every two weeks there is a new Scooby Doo comic book and this week it’s Where Are You? #80. This title is funny, affordable (only $2.99!) and one that kids know, love and want to read.

Hero Cats #16

Cats aren’t your scene? You’ll still like Hero Cats and issue #16 is a new story point that is about cats, but also about action, science fiction, naps and more. This is one of the new, great all age comics because of how it’s evolved and improved since the first couple of issues. It did start as a cat series that was more girl-centric, but has evolved into a fun, weird title with action and cats as some of the heroes that will be great for boys or girls, ages 7 and up.

The music in the podcast is from Free The Whale. It’s some cool rock with instrumentals, blues and rockabilly that I think you’ll enjoy digging into.

Humor

Super

Action/Science fiction