graphic novel | Page 6 of 7

Attack of the Stuff is one of the best (& oddest) graphic novels this year

Jim Benton is a bestselling cartoonist and author. Elementary aged audiences know him for Catwad, Dear Dumb Diary, Clyde, Dog Butts and Love, Franny K. Stein, his Victor Shmud books or something else that’s most likely funny, cartoonish or creative. In Attack of the Stuff, Benton offers up a standalone all-age graphic novel that is unlike anything you’ve ever read. Some readers’ fingers will burn with anticipation through the pages of the book so quickly you’ll need a cup of ice next to it to cool them down at the end of it. Other readers will simply laugh at the puns, illustrations and sheer ridiculousness of the plot. We’re firmly in the first camp and have read the graphic novel several times, finding something new to laugh about each time.

Gird your loins-this is all age graphic novel greatness

Investigators, the new 500 pound gorilla in all age graphic novels

Waves are a common thing amongst the tides, life and publishing. There will never be another middle grade book series as this. The best all age comic book that we’ve seen in ages has just ended its run. There are no new great all age graphic novels. We have points to counter all of those, but let’s tackle that last one first. A great all age graphic novel is one that’s fabulously entertaining for elementary aged readers without babying down the content. This way it can also be enjoyed by those in middle school, high school and those adults that read to children. For all of those in that sentence check out Investigators by John Patrick Green. This is legitimately laugh out loud funny for adult readers, but is probably intended for readers as young as six.

Investigators runs from the start, it’s one of the best graphic novels of the year.

Snapdragon, it’s great and isn’t what you think it is

Why is the title character wearing antlers? That was the first thing that I thought when I saw the cover to Snapdragon. The summary about a young girl out to see if the witch that lives in town is eating pets is correct. Snap’s dog has gone missing and while she might be scared to confront the witch, she also needs to find her dog. By the 10^th page Snap has solved that problem and is onto dispelling urban myths, discovering a bit her family, making friends and having a grand adventure.

Snapdragon is a great middle-grade graphic novel for boys or girls

Owly, The Way Home-now in a graphic novel for new audiences

We often chat about all age comic books. Since 2012 we’ve done a weekly podcast where we talk about some of the week’s new comic books. That podcast is accompanied by a post where all of the week’s comic books and graphic novels that are good for kids are listed. Owly is an OG all age graphic novel and the first book in Eisner Award-winning series is being reprinted, this time with color illustrations done by creator/artist Andy Runton.

Our 8YO just found a graphic novel that he Wants (!!!) to read

The Midwinter Witch, the best in the series yet

The Midwinter Witch is the third and final graphic novel in this series by Molly Knox Ostertag takes the Vanissen family and their ancillary witches to a family reunion. The Midwinter Festival is when Aster’s family get together, talk about what’s new and bond as a family. They’re just like your family reunion, except they have competitions in witchery and shape shifting. If you read the first two books in the series then the personalities, quirks and powers of everyone involved will come back to you quickly.

The final book in the graphic novel series is the best and most accessible yet

The Boy Who Became A Dragon, A Bruce Lee Story review

Early in my marriage my wife and I set a $25 limit on gifts. The first gift that she gave me under the price restrictions at that time was a Bruce Lee DVD set. That was 13 years ago and I still have the DVDs, plus I’m still married. I mention that to drive home the point that I am a Bruce Lee fan. His talent was stunning and the legacy that he had and left behind is amazing and tragic. The Boy Who Became A Dragon, A Bruce Lee Story by Jim Di Bartolo is a graphic novel that (shockingly…) I expected to enjoy. Once I was finished the book I realized that I enjoyed it for entirely different reasons than I thought that I would.

We loved this graphic novel, but not for the reasons we would’ve thought

Deadendia The Broken Halo, quirky LGBTQ sci-fi graphic novel

My weird is not your weird. What I think is different, odd or not my normal could be your go-to entertainment. Quirky is a much better word for that. Everything can be quirky. It’s the way that your dog walks around the bush three times before using the bathroom. It’s the way that some creators accent their characters to a degree in their mannerisms to make just a bit more eccentric than the rest of us. Deadendia The Broken Halo is the second book in the series by Hamish Steele on Nobrow. It’s full on quirky for those readers 14 and up who want a beautifully illustrated story that’s crafted in another dimension, then wrapped in bacon and served with a side of friendship, monsters and angels.

Deadendia: The Broken Halo is quirk-tastic, sci-fi with an LGBTQ twist

Making Friends, a gleeful graphic novel that is not what you think

I know this graphic novel, that’s what you’re thinking. You look at the cover and see three girls and a boy, all of whom are in middle school. They’re talking on the school bus, they all look happy and the graphic novel is called Making Friends. I thought I knew this graphic novel before reading it, thinking that it would have some tragic, Doofenshmirtz-type back story about the friends and what they’ve overcome. Instead, Making Friends is a joyful graphic novel about friendship, science-fiction, family and realizing when you’re in the right place. It’s a fast paced graphic novel that ages 12 and up will immediately relate to, but the book is appropriate for those readers 8 and up.

Making Friends is an upper elementary and up graphic novel about friendship, but with more science-fiction and action than you’re expecting.

This is a great graphic novel-and it is different than what you think it is