Backward Science is reverse engineering’s brother, the two of them live at that house down the road with all of the car parts that are just outside of where you can see them. That way they can avoid the HOA penalties. That phrase also sound like something your parent might say after you create something. “That’s some backward science there”, dad would say as he’s trying to compliment you, but really wants the end product or creation thereof to be more polished. In this instance, Backward Science is the perfect name for a book that takes a look brief look back at how we lived, made stuff or got around before things were as modern as they are today.
When I was a kid the only comic book that one of my friends was allowed to read was Richie Rich. Whenever we’d go on trips I’d bring my Spider-Man comic books and he’d bring the ones that he was allowed to read. It’s not that I didn’t like Richie Rich, it’s just that there was very little relatable in that comic book. Cut somewhat from the same cloth is the children’s illustrated book series Claris. Claris, The Chicest Mouse in Paris Holiday Heist leaves me with a conflicted feeling. It’s obviously cute, has beautiful drawings and nice characters, but is annoying and pretentious at the same time.
From a story about gems to a fabled opus on friendship, growing up, to its being a beacon in the LGBTQ world, imagination, creativity and so much more. When I first started watching Steven Universe it was all about the gems, earnest characters, and, to an extent the songs. After reading Steven Universe: End of an Era, I now know that it had much more in common with How I Met Your Mother than I ever knew.
If the middle school mind could be accessed as easily as a filing cabinet then you’d see files on everything that’s represented in Elvin Link, Please Report to the Principal’s Office by Drew Dernavich in there. There’d be a file on doodling, hanging out with your best friend, a conspiracy theory file (that also includes parents), a large folder on school issues like acquaintances/bullies, and many other files that get changed or moved to the front as they get older. Elvin Link captures that middle-school essence in the best and sweetest of all possible ways.
Even before I had children I was reading Zits. Back then I enjoyed reading it because teenager Jeremy’s slacker behavior was something that I could relate to from my recent past. It was the late 90s and I was somewhere after college, but before getting a proper job and light-years away from maturing. While that last one is still in question, I’m still a fan of Zits, but for an entirely new litany of reasons that all revolve around children. They’re my children, as well as my nieces and nephews. The latter two I’ve seen go through or are going through their teenage years. The oldest of my children are knocking on the doors of teenage-dom and that makes Zit funny on a whole new level. The latest Zits collection, Screetime is out now and succeeds regardless of where you are in life, as long as you’re older than nine.
Hello to age diversity and graphic novels this week! In all age comic books, there is generally a wide range of readers who would be great fits for anything and this week is a testament to that. That is especially true if there’s an elementary school reader who is looking for a great graphic novel to latch onto. Those emerging readers have their pick of the litter including Clifford the Big Red Dog The Movie Graphic Novel, Arlo & Pips King of the Birds, Dolphin Girl Trouble in Paradise, Gabby & Gator and many more. That last graphic novel is by James Birks of the great Bird & Squirrel graphic novel series. That series is a go-to for any elementary school reader, so keep an eye out for his new book. It’s also worth noting that the fourth book in the very popular Mr. Wolf’s Class by Aron Nels Steinke is out this week. Field Trip is elementary reading fun that also gives kids confidence because they can read the graphic novel by themselves.
If it’s middle or high school comic (drama) you want, then check out Zits, Screentime. This latest treasury of the classic comic strip captures teenage angst meeting parental frustration at its best. This strip is celebrating its 23rd anniversary and 16-year-old Jeremy is just as normal as any actual teen. Because of this, it’s a strip that can be enjoyed by middle school readers all the way through moms and dads.
There are some all age comic books out this week too. The Amazing Spider-Man #49 is out and it’s a big issue. Clocking in a $9.99 this is landmark #850 if you’re following to the legacy, lineage of the series. The Rise of Ultraman #2 of 5 will be great for those left-of-center kids looking for something cool. Sonic the Hedgehog Bad Guys #1 of 4 and Star Wars Adventures #1 will both be great for readers aged 8 and up who are looking for a great comic that their friends are reading. For all of the all age comic books this week just jump past the logo.
Is losing one’s tooth a time to panic or a rite of passage? How someone answers that might depend on how old they are and whether or not they’re a vampire. I mean, what if the very definition of what embodies you (or at least, what you think embodies you) were to change? In I Love My Fangs! the specific change that’s being referenced is one that every adult experienced 20 times. The first couple of times might have been traumatic, but after that, it was all gravy and tooth fairy expectations.
Alien Superstar was one of the best middle-school books of 2019. It crackled with humor, action, and a carefree vibe that ages 9 and up want to experience. Buddy Burger is the titular alien in the book. He’s escaped his home planet because there was an uprising happening that wasn’t bringing the best of the planet to the forefront. His grandmother put him in a ship and sent him to Earth where he crashed onto the backlot of a theme park that also does television production. From here his actual alien form allowed him to be the perfect ‘costumed’ performer on a hit show. It also helped that his costume, Zane Tracy, which is his human form, is a very cute teenage boy. In Alien Superstar Lights, Camera, Danger! Buddy is back and elements from his past are here too. Are they on his side or have they been an evil squadron?
Facebook
Twitter
Flickr
GooglePlus
Youtube