A nostalgic nod to the power of friendship.
Social outcasts find their collective calling along with some incidental heroism.
It’s May 1989, and 16-year-old Doug Cowen is putting a band together to open for returning local boy Tommi Tungstun, who has achieved a modicum of heavy-metal success outside their small Tennessee town. Drummer Jonny Duncan, Lenny Heck on his older brother’s bass, and Marty Ward on guitar round out the main cast. Each of them is held back personally or targeted for bullying at school as a result of their circumstances and upbringing, be it Doug’s small stature and gifted and talented label, Marty’s poverty, Jonny’s repressively conservative Christian family, or Lenny’s larger body size. Scenes of adolescent downtime that find the four outcasts nerding out over music ring true. Performance as their means of escape, expression, and bonding is also cause for bold sound effects lettered in primary colors. The group’s tenuous camaraderie serves as an escape from the ever present bullying of quarterback and sheriff’s son Clay Guidry, who finds and torments them at school and around town. Climactic action revolving around carnage caused by mutated pigs created by a multinational corporation may seem out of place, but it also serves as a catalyst for the gang’s character arcs. A substantial epilogue closes out the bloodied but rockin’ wonder years. This concise offering scratches that Stranger Things itch without overstaying its welcome. Main characters appear White.
A nostalgic nod to the power of friendship. (Graphic fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781506729404
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Dark Horse
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
Mercurial and cartoonishly violent but enjoyable thanks to its exuberance.
The lives of two high school students become intertwined as trails of pain and destruction are left in their wake following the All-City Karate Tournament.
It’s love at first sight for awkward Benjamin Harrison High student Don Jones when he’s pitted against Lincoln High’s Samantha Steadman for a shot at the finals in the local karate tournament. After Sam quickly defeats Don, he asks her on a date, and the two instantly connect, leading to a follow-up at prom. All is well until Don’s murderous ex-girlfriend, Astor Violenzia, shows up to the after-party, and chaos ensues. Broken into three unpredictable and highly energetic acts—with key and unexpected moments occurring off page—the story feels like a playful tribute to ’80s pop culture that’s gone off the rails. The dramatic fight sequences offer a head nod to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim series. The violence, which drives the story forward, can come across as gratuitous but is in line with the narrative’s cheeky nature, while the characters subvert the expectations of their stereotypes. Fiery orange coloring and plentiful action lines match the story’s fast pace. Sam has light blond hair and tan skin; Don has brown skin and Afro-textured hair. Diverse body types and skin tones are represented among the cast members.
Mercurial and cartoonishly violent but enjoyable thanks to its exuberance. (Graphic fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781250868657
Page Count: 176
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
A welcome hit into the outfield of books about queer athletes.
A closeted teen steps up to the plate for a cute boy—and himself.
After jocks ridicule and knock over his history class presentation, freshman Jonah picks up the pieces. Cute classmate Elliot helps. That small act of kindness makes sparks fly, cuing confusing feelings. Jonah decides to join the baseball team to get closer to Elliot—even if it means enduring more bullying from the other teammates. But Coach Jackson sees Jonah’s athletic potential and takes him under his wing. As the plot follows the four baseball seasons until Jonah’s graduation, Jonah slowly goes from laughingstock to star. But does he ever truly fit in? Cartoonist and editor Newman’s semiautobiographical graphic novel debut is a heartfelt tale of self-discovery. Consolidating all four years of high school into one book makes for a quick pace. Clever paneling and nearly wordless sequences effectively pump the brakes for key moments—and show glimpses of Jonah’s wild imagination. Despite the rampant bro culture and homophobia of the aughts setting, multiple queer characters of all ages at various stages of coming out add an important sense of community and possibility. A subplot about a female teammate briefly touches on sexism. Though the ensemble cast is diverse in skin tone, the majority of the main cast present white; Coach Jackson is Black.
A welcome hit into the outfield of books about queer athletes. (author’s note, process notes, resources) (Graphic fiction. 14-17)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9781524884826
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
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