Author: wfraser76

Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl

Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl

(I know the title of this graphic novel lists Mighty Jack first, but given that the girls and I read Zita long before Jack came around, I prefer to think of this as Zita’s book. Just sayin’.)

We’ve been reading Zita the Spacegirl in our house for years at this point, and author and artist Ben Hatke’s work appealed to our girls from the moment I brought her first book home. As I hate giving away too much information about a story (I’m looking at you, lengthy movie trailers that spoil everything), I’ll simply say that our girls found Zita’s original trilogy of graphic novels to be just the right combination of adventure and suspense, with a little heart-tugging thrown in for good measure. Zita’s was the kind of kids’ story that, once you finished it, you wish you could forget the entire thing just so you could read it all over again with a fresh brain. Her original story wraps up really nicely, which is a tough thing to do in any genre, but regardless, we were sorry to see it end. Like most fans, we hoped for – someday – just a little bit more. Just one more tale, perhaps.

That’s what made it so great to have her pop up in Jack’s latest adventures. Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl is a great combination of storylines; Jack’s is a fantastical take on the beanstalk mythos, while Zita’s is one of intergalactic adventure, and the story of their meeting and consequent quest to save Earth is told as only Ben Hatke can tell it. This book has the same combination of emotions – the real heart of Hatke’s stuff – that made his work on both Zita and Jack so great. We enjoyed Jack’s first two graphic novels – Mighty Jack, and then Mighty Jack and the Goblin King – and while I might be a far cry from the intended demographic, I was honestly happy to bring home another tale starring Zita, even if she was sharing the spotlight.

I know this writeup is a little vague, but I really want to avoid giving anything away. Suffice it to say, fans of Zita will see a lot of familiar faces in this book, and fans of Jack will see the wrapping-up of his overall storyline. It felt good to see them both back in action. And it felt good to see our girls’ faces when they saw that Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl was going to be the Books at Bedtime selection for the next several nights.

Please, pick up some work by Ben Hatke. Start with Zita, read Jack, and then read this latest offering starring both titular characters. I really don’t think you will be disappointed.

Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl: https://amzn.to/2ncsg7Q
Zita the Spacegirl: https://amzn.to/2mkBwGR

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September 27, 2019
We Love Lumberjanes! Great Girl Power Graphic Novels.

Lumberjanes

The title says it all – we have loved reading Lumberjanes!

My daughters are enamored with this series, which focuses on a group of girls who attend a Girl Scout-like summer camp, only to find themselves immersed in supernatural adventures and mysteries. When we got our hands on the first volume, we were excited to read it, and it has yet to disappoint.

The main characters – April, Mal, Ripley, Jo, and Molly – each have a distinct personality, as well as their own strengths and struggles, and every adventure requires them to ultimately work as team in order to succeed. Naturally, they tend to discover things about themselves, develop new survival or mystical skills, and learn to support one another throughout the process, all things which add to the rich storytelling. In addition, each story tends to contain just a little danger, a touch of original or classic mythology, and new material that builds upon the series’ mythos. Even when stories wrap up neatly, you tend to be left wondering what new obstacles the girls from Roanoke Cabin will face in their next adventure. My youngest daughter likes the fact that the girls work as a team, while my oldest loves the humor of the series. As for me, I gravitate toward the supernatural and paranormal aspects of the series, and the variety of personalities the writers have cultivated in both the main and supporting characters (Bear Woman is cantankerous, but tends to be one of my favorites).

Over the course of a number of Books at Bedtime sessions, we read the first ten volumes, each of which collects several issues of the series. The creative team does change over the course of the series, which sometimes took adjusting on our parts (we would read one volume, becoming accustomed to one writing or artistic style, only to find this had changed in the next volume). However, while the series may have its ups and downs (depending on what you’re looking for, storywise), there were never any disappointments or stories that the girls felt were uninteresting. Each volume we finished left us wanting to pick up the next one (we already have the next volume on the way).

Highly recommended (for kids and adults, alike). Pick up some Lumberjanes the next chance you get!

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August 23, 2019
DuckTales: A Welcome Return!

I always think it’s great when something I loved as a kid turns out to be something my own kids love, too. It’s even better when that thing has changed juuuuuust enough to stay current, but retains everything you loved about it back in the day. This is what has made the new Duck T ales series – now in its fourth season – such a blast. Prepare to have a certain theme song stuck in your head…..and to admit you’re a sentimental member of Generation X.

Back in action are all the classics: Scrooge, Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie! Webby Vanderquack and Mrs. Beakley! Launchpad, Gyro Gearloose, and Duckworth! Even arch nemeses Flintheart Glomgold and Magica De Spell! Sit down to watch with an after-school snack, and it’s like you’ve stepped back into the late 80’s.

Naturally, there have been some changes. The animation style is new, subtly altering the appearances of most characters, and there are new voice actors, whose work quickly grew on me. The series’ family-friendly humor was expected, but I appreciate the fact that some jokes seem intended for parents. However, some of the biggest (and among the most positive, in my opinion) changes were those made to Mrs. Beakley and Webby. No longer is Beakley a worrisome, grandmotherly type; she’s now a shrewd ex-secret agent who expertly navigates the chaos of McDuck Mansion. Webby no longer stands on the sidelines, clutching a stuffed toy; instead, she is intellectual, adventurous, independent, and exceptionally worldly for a kid. These character changes certainly make things more interesting, while making for some nice and unexpected storylines, and as someone with two young daughters, I really appreciated the stronger and more prominent female characters.

If you’re a fan of the original, or just love All Things Disney, I would highly suggest checking this reboot out! With episodes running at just 22 minutes each, they’re bite-size and well worth watching with the kids. You can find them on Amazon Video (like us), Disney Channel or Disney Now. https://amzn.to/2WY0ooq

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June 10, 2019
Misfit City: An 80’s-Style Adventure

Our nighttime ritual – books at bedtime – is something our kids look forward to, and it’s always great when we find something that really appeals to the whole family. Since everyone in the house has a penchant for a little mystery, some adventure, and a dash of humor, this made the first two volumes of the BOOM! Studios series Misfit City a perfect fit. Just a heads up, you may need to leave a few small parts out when reading to young children.

Misfit City Vol. 1 – Get it here: https://amzn.to/2HK87Od
Misfit City Vol. 2 – Get it here: https://amzn.to/2HMb159

Set in fictional Cannon Cove, Misfit City follows four friends – Macy, Wilder, Karma, and Dot – as they pursue the long-lost treasure of the infamous pirate, Black Mary. Cannon Cove, famous for being the filming location of a cult classic movie titled The Gloomies, is replete with just enough tourists, snobby teens, and bad weather to make you root for the girls when they yearn for something that will liven things up. Naturally, when they stumble onto Black Mary’s treasure map, the girls find a bit more than they bargained for.

Before they know it, the group – along with their trusty dog, Pippin – are hot on the trail of pirate gold, just barely staying a step ahead of a series of ne’er-do-wells with the exact same goal. In between solving riddles, escaping villains, and dodging traps, the girls learn how to work together, trust their own strengths, and avoid the most wicked obstacle in all of childhood: the interference of parents.

Given that my wife and I are children of the 80’s, we loved that The Gloomies was a take on The Goonies, while Cannon Cove served as a stand-in for the film location of Astoria, Oregon. Alas, neither of our childhoods ever consisted of a real-life Goonies adventure, so it was great to relive that same kind of action through this series. It was just as much fun watching our girls soak up the world of Misfit City, much as we did with our own era’s books and movies.

In all fairness, we did hit a couple of minor trouble spots while reading that we had to gloss over as they were a little too mature for the ages of our children (6 & 8) so look out for that as you read, but events never became too scary, the main characters are all strong and capable, and the combo of treasure hunts, pirates, kids, and cliffhangers had our girls hooked from the very start. It’s a great series – and well worth checking out. Our girls’ only disappointment is that they have to wait for Volume 3!

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May 30, 2019
Mighty Meg – A Great Story for All Ages
In our house, we prize reading. It can be anything, really; chapter books, picture books, magazines, comics, graphic novels, or even the backs of cereal boxes. We are constantly looking for new reading material for our two girls, and given their varying tastes, finding something to read with the two of them at bedtime that appeals to both of them can sometimes be a little challenging.

That was why we were so happy to find the Mighty Meg series.

The series focuses on the title character, Meg, an inquisitive and kind young girl who receives a beautiful, antique ring as a birthday gift. When she discovers the ring imbues her with superpowers, Meg embarks on some challenging adventures, and has to decide how – and whether – to put her new powers to use, all while trying to master them.

The books are adventurous, family-friendly, and are appropriate for a wide range of ages (we read these to our 6 and 8 year-old daughters). In addition, Meg tales seem short enough to appeal to kids that may struggle with longterm focus, and also have illustrations on nearly every page, which will certainly help keep younger readers engaged. I really loved the focus on the importance of family, how Meg struggles with the idea of keeping her powers a secret from those she cares about, and how, even being as young as she is, Meg understands the importance of helping others.

We weren’t even halfway through the first book when my girls began to ask if we could read the second book together, and I was more than happy to tell them that we would!

In short, this is a fun, kid-friendly series with wide appeal. Highly recommended for family reading time!

Find the whole series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JRn8PJ
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May 20, 2019