It may be Nothing, but this adventure’s really something.
On Nothing, a decadelong truce binds a tenuous peace between the Human Empire and the Volken Court—but now humans and volken alike are disappearing as the encroaching Darkness spreads across the lands.
Nathan Cadwell, a charismatic gambler, miraculously magics himself out of the clutches of ferocious debt collectors. Waking up in the dangerous Booreal Forest, Nathan narrowly evades an attack by a volken—a magical being with the ability to transform into an animal—thanks to an enigmatic nonbinary Fae that comes to his rescue. Naming his savior Haven, Nathan and his newfound friend escape to a nearby town, where mercenaries kidnap the pair. The mercenaries—a volken and a traitorous half volken/half human—escort Nathan and Haven to the Empire’s capital, where Prince Naoki and his entrusted guard, Ren, enlist the group to uncover the truths behind the Darkness; the goddesses’ child, Lerina; and the mysterious source of Nathan’s magic. Loaded with humor and thrilling magical combat, this spin on the chosen one trope wrings out a lot of fun despite some oddball pacing. A few meta-jokes draw needless attention to the formulaic narrative, but strong characters and intriguing worldbuilding make for a gratifying hero’s journey. Featuring text in in-universe Ancient (actually Esperanto) and Common (English) languages, as well as a racially diverse cast, this webcomic-turned–graphic novel ends on a promise of a sequel.
It may be Nothing, but this adventure’s really something. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-283947-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Captain Amazing, the muscled hero of Metro City, is aging, and after a botched takedown of four nefarious villains, he...
A veritable bonanza of capes, heroes and pets with superpowers abounds in illustrator Santat’s first solo graphic novel.
Captain Amazing, the muscled hero of Metro City, is aging, and after a botched takedown of four nefarious villains, he decides he is in need of a trusty sidekick. Unbeknownst to Captain, his own pets are clamoring for the job (and for more quality time with their beloved owner). Fluffy, his hamster, has yet to discover his superpower, but this rodent has a lot of heart. Manny the cat (who has the ability to electrocute bad guys) had run away after his beloved toy Nummers went missing, but the prodigal cat returns just in time to help the Captain. Roscoe (a.k.a. Metal Mutt) has a gruff exterior but is fiercely loyal. Shifty, the newest addition to the family, is a color-changing chameleon who adds a dose of comic relief. The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat’s illustrations are clear, engaging and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels. While there is no mention of a sequel, subsequent volumes would certainly fly off the shelf faster than a speeding bullet, so here's hoping.Pub Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-439-29811-7
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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