These super sons deserve better than this drab outing.
The super duo of Jon Kent and Ian Wayne make their middle-grade debut.
The friendship/rivalry of Jonathan Kent (son of Lois Lane and Clark Kent) and Damian Wayne (son of Talia al Ghul and Bruce Wayne) has led to many silly and thrilling comic-book adventures, most notably in Peter J. Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez’s heartfelt and emotionally honest Super Sons series. Fans won’t find much resemblance here: Pearson has drastically reimagined Damian and Jonathan and moved the story to an alternate timeline with little to offer lovers of DC Comics lore. This is a book designed for newcomers, but it doesn’t make any exciting choices or craft thrilling action sequences to draw readers in. Jon and Damian (now going by Ian) live in a world haunted by the specter of climate change. Superman is dispatched on a mission to retrieve some dust from an asteroid that may help save the Earth. With Superman gone for months Jon is left to attend school in Wyndemere, where he’s quickly drawn into Ian Wayne’s orbit, and the teens bicker as they uncover a global conspiracy and partner with the mysterious Candace, a classmate with secrets that may be relevant. The dialogue is flat, the compositions are bland, and while the colors pop, there doesn’t seem to be much thought to how they contribute to the art as a whole. (Jon presents white; Ian has beige skin; and Candace is black.) The book lurches forward with little dramatic propulsion and ends on an infuriating cliffhanger.
These super sons deserve better than this drab outing. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4012-8639-2
Page Count: 160
Publisher: DC Comics
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and...
Catrina narrates the story of her mixed-race (Latino/white) family’s move from Southern California to Bahía de la Luna on the Northern California coast.
Dad has a new job, but it’s little sister Maya’s lungs that motivate the move: she has had cystic fibrosis since birth—a degenerative breathing condition. Despite her health, Maya loves adventure, even if her lungs suffer for it and even when Cat must follow to keep her safe. When Carlos, a tall, brown, and handsome teen Ghost Tour guide introduces the sisters to the Bahía ghosts—most of whom were Spanish-speaking Mexicans when alive—they fascinate Maya and she them, but the terrified Cat wants only to get herself and Maya back to safety. When the ghost adventure leads to Maya’s hospitalization, Cat blames both herself and Carlos, which makes seeing him at school difficult. As Cat awakens to the meaning of Halloween and Day of the Dead in this strange new home, she comes to understand the importance of the ghosts both to herself and to Maya. Telgemeier neatly balances enough issues that a lesser artist would split them into separate stories and delivers as much delight textually as visually. The backmatter includes snippets from Telgemeier’s sketchbook and a photo of her in Día makeup.
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-54061-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
Like the pathfinders, readers will be crying, “Plus Ultra!” and hoping for the next adventure.
Five intrepid, young pathfinders explore the environmentally volatile Windrose Valley in search of a fabled treasure.
Deep in Windrose Valley awaits an adventurous summer at Camp Pathfinder, founded by a renowned, eccentric pioneer named Henry Merriweather. Merriweather’s fixation on finding the legendary Windrose treasure serves as a grand catalyst for the campers’ quest. The eclectic group of campers—newcomer Kyle, history buff Beth, zany magician-in-training Harry, cheerleader/math queen Vic, and tinkerer Nate—sets off, running all over town to find Merriweather’s baroque tile markers. Eventually, their efforts lead them to the Merriweather Estate, where the campers slowly uncover the mystery behind the Moon Tower catastrophe. Shortly after the bizarre incident, Merriweather disappeared, and the town’s fortunes failed. As the adolescent pathfinders near the trail toward the Moon Tower and inch ever closer to the treasure, they learn more about the mythical Merriweather and his infamous obsession. Sedita, Seraydarian, and Hamaker’s series debut zips along nicely, mixing cryptic teases with affable characters. Though the quieter moments rarely make much of an impact, the authors’ exposition-heavy worldbuilding incites enthusiasm for the campers’ endeavor. The hints of magic in the snappy illustrations add another layer of allure. Featuring flashes of time slips and a racially diverse cast, this graphic novel hits all the right spots for the inevitable sequel.
Like the pathfinders, readers will be crying, “Plus Ultra!” and hoping for the next adventure. (Fantasy. 8-12)Pub Date: April 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-425-29186-3
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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