Children's book reviews, all age comic books, Kidlit, mglit, movies, entertainment and parenting
Category: All Age Comic Books
This is a look at the new all age comics that are OK for young readers. Some of these comics are also great for any reader :) We’ll review some of them and provide as thorough a list of all the new titles coming out that Wednesday.
When I was a younger man, the Muppet Babies rubbed me the wrong way. I saw the ‘babyization’ of already famous characters represented as infants or babies as robbing the tomb of my childhood. It should also be said that I was also 22 and had a friend who seriously started a petition to remove Barney from PBS because he was annoying. The ’90s, combined with being in your twenties and trying to find yourself was a wacky time wasn’t it? With that mindset clearly in the rearview mirror, I read Arkhamaniacs. I also gave it to our kids to read. Our nine-year-old loved the graphic novel and immediately curled up in bed to read it.
In speaking with our elementary school library one of their biggest desires is for kids to read more non-fiction books. For those older elementary students, as well as, anyone who appreciates smart books that educate through humor and real events the Hazardous Tales series must be on your list. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales is an ongoing graphic novel series on Amulet Books that cover a variety of people, events, or things. They’re also some of the best, not to mention educational series of books that have the potential to engage young readers on real-life happenings. Blades of Freedom is the tenth book in the series and it brings the elements that fans enjoyed from earlier books, but also digs deeper into history and unknown nuggets.
It’s a typical slow, late December week for new comic book day. There are a couple of new all-age comic books, including one must-read release, plus a graphic novel that will be one of the most sought-after new releases this winter. Cat Kit Comic Club is the new Dog Man. He ran his course and Cat Kid, his partner in crime fighting fun has their own series from elementary book juggernaut Dav Pilkey. This graphic novel was available at Target last week and is out at any book retailer this week. DC Comics also has Scooby Doo Where Are #107 hitting comic book stores. This series is only $2.99 and flies out of elementary school libraries when they have copies.
Power Rangers, a new monthly series from Boom! Studios and Doctor Who Comics are some of the other new all-age comic books out. It’s weeks like this where it’s also a great opportunity to catch up on releases you missed or to experiment on new titles that you have always been curious about.
This week in all age comic books is nothing to laugh at. Really, there aren’t any comic books that you could categorize as humor. In its place are some of the staple all age comic books, plus an under-the-radar gem that’s great for those middle-school readers.
It’s a great week for web crawlers as The Amazing Spider-Man #54 and Marvel Action Spider-Man: Shock to the System are released. That first title is great for upper-elementary school and older, while that second one is great for middle-elementary school through high school. Upper elementary readers will also enjoy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #112. We looked at this title for the first time in a while and it’s a series that kids will enjoy and parents will approve of. There might be a couple of very mild words in the comic book, but you’re kids have heard and probably said them before if they’re 10 or older.
Lastly, are you 10 or older and looking for a very cool comic book that you’re friends might not be reading? If that is you then Usagi Yojimbo #15 is your jam. It’s about a ronin rabbit who goes about doing good deeds and sometimes getting into trouble. This is one of those all age comic books that has enough story to accompany the art. The violence, mostly implied, might be too much for those young elementary readers, but ages 9 and up who are looking for something fresh need to check this out.
Now, on with all of the all age comic books this week.
This is one of those weeks in all age comic books. It’s a great week with lots of comic books that will entertain elementary school aged readers all the way through those middle and high school readers who are looking for something just left of center. Lumberjanes is winding down its series and #75 is its next-to-last issue. This comic book blends science-fiction, humor, friendship and so much more that each issue could be classed as science-fiction, action or humor. It’s great for upper-elementary and up. Visit any middle-school library and you’ll be lucky to find any Lumberjanes graphic novel because they’re more than likely checked out.
Elementary school students, and their libraries, love Looney Tunes. Looney Tunes #257 is out this week and everybody will love it. I love it. Our 11-year-old has loved this comic book since he was seven-years-old. It’s a classic.
Marvel Action Avengers #2 is one of those all age comic books that combine humor, as well as, the action that young readers want. This comic book is one that doesn’t water down or ‘baby-ize’ it to make it interesting to those ages. It’ll be appropriate for ages eight and up.
If you’re a middle school reader or older and want an intelligent graphic novel that delivers dread check out Jim Henson The Storyteller Ghosts. The art and story in this graphic novel are as good as it gets in stories that are OK for children. It might be a bit too much for elementary school, but if you love deep, rich art with spooky dread this is a must-read.
This week in all age comic books is fun and diverse. It kicks off with two releases from Archie Comics. Archie & Friends Fall Festival is a comic book that retails for only $2.99, while Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest is the square publication that you’ll see at the check-out lane at the supermarket. Both of these are new and on point for those readers in upper elementary and middle school.
Middle school readers who are looking for a fun graphic novel should check out 7 Good Reasons Not to Grow Up. Upper elementary school readers will love Super Side Kicks-No Adults Allowed by Gavin Aung Than on Random House. Those same ages who are looking for a left-of-center comic book need to look at The Magnificent Ms. Marvel. This is great for those tween readers who want superhero action, but need something that’s not typical and still very fun. Power Rangers also starts a new chapter. This new series brings a new team with all new dangers. Those upper elementary readers who are looking for a series that’s loaded with action should give this a look.
Hilda and the Time Worm is a novel that ties in to the Netflix show. This character and the world that creator Luke Pearson have created is timeless and words great for kids aged 8 and up. There’s a great number of all age comic books out this week, to see all of them just jump on past the graphic.
Humor
Archie & Friends Fall Festival #1, E
Archie Milestones Jumbo Digest #11, E
7 Good Reasons Not to Grow Up, M, H
Super Side Kicks-No Adults Allowed, UE, M
Superhero
The Amazing Spider-Man #52, UE, M, H
Magnificent Ms. Marvel #16, M, H
Power Rangers #1, UE, M, H
Teen Titans GO! Roll With It, UE, M, H
Science-fiction/Action
Goosebumps Secrets of the Swamp #2, of 5, UE, M,
Great Naval Battles of the Twentieth Century, M, H
Hilda and the Time Worm, UE, M
Star Wars The Jedi Mind, M, H
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #111, UE, M, H
Sonic the Hedgehog #34, E, M,
Transformers #24, UE, M, H
New comic book day is nigh and there are a couple great all age comic books in that mix. Literally, it’s just a couple of new comic books. There are some great elementary school readers in these releases though. Do you have an elementary school student who likes superheroes and needs to read? If that’s the case then they need to check out Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishing. This week has three DC stories that’ll entertain ages seven and up. Batman & Missing Punchline, Cyborg-An Origin Story or Wonder Woman and the Cheetah Challenge all have great art that’s combined with a written story that will make those ages want to read.
For those upper elementary ages you need to read Goosebumps Secrets of the Swamp. This series from IDW Publishing is perfect for those fans who enjoy the Marvel Action comic book series from the same publisher. This presents age-appropriate scares and monsters for those eight-year-old readers who love great art with their written story. This is fun stuff that will hit those ages, plus demo up through middle school.
There are also a couple cool Spider-Man books, a series that’s always great for ages nine and up. Middle school readers who like monsters and robots need to check out The Rise of Ultraman. Issue 3 of this 5 issue mini-series is out this week. This is a fun series that does rely on reading to follow the fine points of the plot. Don’t let that put you off because it’s very well crafted and has some larger than life monsters.
Never judge a book by its cover, we all know that adage. Because I judged this cover I was hesitant to read Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter. It looks too girly, has a ‘Twilight’ vibe that sends the wrong kind of shivers up my spine and the great to the fifth power subtitle seems all too gimmicky. Hello crow, you taste rather good right now. In reality, Mary, The Adventures of Mary Shelley’s Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter is a delicious surprise of a graphic novel that acknowledges its tenuous lineage into a real page-turner that will satisfy middle school readers of any ilk.
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