I don’t know much about The Call of Cthulhu, but I was a big fan of The Call of Ktulu by Metallica when Ride the Lightning came out. The uninitiated like me on The Call of Cthulhu can get up to speed on the classic book by H. P. Lovecraft in its graphic novel edition. It’s presented as part of the Dark Tales imprint on Canterbury Classics Books. The art in it is done by Dave Shepherd and its result might just depend on how much you know about the story. Continue reading The Call of Cthulhu is graphic novel fun and Lovecraft 101
Hotel Transylvania 3, Drac takes the show to the sea
Kids absolutely love Hotel Transylvania. Our 8 year old tolerated the first one the first time he saw it and has grown to love the second one. Hotel Transylvania 3 is his movie du summer. For him, Hotel Transylvania 3 is what being an 8 year old kid is about. It’s got monsters, laughs, familiar characters; just enough scares to be OK for any parent and twists that he imagines will entertain him for hours. For the elementary set that description is 100% accurate.
Hotel Transylvania 3 starts in the castle with Drac and his friends running the inn. Mavis and Johnny‘s son Dennis is growing up, their dog is as big as a dragon and Drac is seriously stressed out. Mavis books a vacation for Drac and their friends are inexplicably along for the ride. Apparently where Drac goes all monsters must follow, but this is the adult in me thinking. For this film your elementary school id needs to be in complete and total control.
<id drives>
Now that an 8 year old is controlling the ship-let’s have a montage of monster clichés that anybody over 15 has already seen! We’ll include some of these in the trailer, like the skeleton pulling up a table and then all of the food going through his body! But, we’ll extend it to about five minutes then, divide it into two segments so that short attention span audiences will laugh out loud.
<id smells bacon and sees a kitten outside, leaves to investigate>
Super ego here, driving the bus. Have you parents seen the introduction to Music and Lyrics, Pop Goes My Heart? Do you know that video montage where Hugh Grant cheesily runs with his girlfriend while a series of intentionally camp backgrounds flash behind him? Think of a training sequence from a Rocky film with predictable behavior that one would expect from a character in a situation that they’re in. This is mindless, benign fodder that is the equivalent of a candy bar laced with tryptophan. It’s a trite ploy that lazy film makers use to lull adults into thinking that the kid’s film that they’re watching will actually be entertaining for them. This is what you’ll think of Hotel Transylvania 3.
<id enters the room again and whops super ego over the head with a sack of stale potatoes, rendering him unconscious for 90 minutes>
What a buffoon. I couldn’t stand listening to their nonsense. That film was great! My friends in third grade have wanted to see this since January. I hope we have Mrs. Smith for our teacher this year. Can you believe school starts soon? And that finale!? With the octopus creature rising from the deep that Super Ego said was a Kraken! Awesome ending that I did not see coming!
<Ego thankfully takes control>
To older viewers the Hotel Transylvania series will seem a bit long in the tooth and Hotel Transylvania 3 doesn’t do anything to assuage their beliefs. The film ends in a manner that the other two films did in that it can provide a jumping off point as a new relationship status between humans and monsters. It was a human, then it was a kid and now it’s a long forgotten grudge that upsets the monster apple cart. When Hotel Transylvania 3 finishes older viewers won’t really care if Drac comes back, but elementary school kids will absolute enthralled. See it as a matinee show and have the kid’s buy their own snacks and this will be a fun day out for all except the one that drove. Your Ego will rationally say that kids need to have their own movie, one that adults won’t try to make too emotional or pack with songs. It’s great for kids to have their own jam. Just tell mom and dad to bide their time until Wreck it Ralph or Toy Story 4 come out to bond with the animated features again.
Season 1 of The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants on Netflix on July 13
Thanks to DreamWorks for the free DIY craft, which is actually quite simple to do…. Our kids grew up on Captain Underpants. Actually our kids are still growing up with Captain Underpants as they’re only 6 and 8. The older one has been a fan of George and Harold since he was 4. It’s the first books that he started to read and the series that I credit with him actively wanting to read. We started with one random book from Captain Underpants and ended up buying the entire series as the year went on. To that end, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants appears to bring what fans of the book series loved about the books. The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants starts airing on Netflix on July 13. If you’re kids haven’t started asking about it, they will. However, if they don’t, then show them a book, then point them in the direction of the television show.
We all were fans of the film. It had more heart than some of its contemporaries that targeted the same demographic. There were still some sight gags, but it wasn’t all potty humor and toilet puns, which is quite ironic considering the titular character. In its place, just as it is in the books, lie George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two best friends that any kid in elementary school can relate to. They’re goofy, like to draw, have fun and also have a wide variety of friends to interact with.
If there was one thing that the film did not contain that our kids noticed, it was its lack of supporting characters. Other than Melvin Sneedly, Mr. Krupp/Captain Underpants and Professor Poopypants it was the George and Harold show. Fans of the books know that there are several characters that interact with them and help spice up the universe of Jerome Horowitz Elementary.
From the previews that I’ve seen, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants seems like it has more ensemble players. It’s still the George and Harold show, with Captain Underpants/Mr. Krupp, but there are teachers or friends that pop in from time to time to act as foibles or friends.
It also still retains the silliness and fun of Captain Underpants. Even as I type this, try to say, much less think of Captain Underpants without smiling. This is a story, nay, a series of stories, a television series even, that compliments its original feature film and books and feels like a compliment instead of a cash in. Part of that is because people, mainly kids who are between 5 and 11, want to see more of their adventures. That was the vibe that our kids gave us after the film and that’s what they get from Dreamworks The Epic Tale of Captain Underpants when it steams all of its first season on July 13.
All age comic books for July 11
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It’s new comic book day, don’t act surprised because this happens every Wednesday. That’s the day the all of the new comic books are released to your local stores. In that shipment are dozens of all age comic books that are great for readers as young as five-years old! Granted that age varies from week to week; but this is one of those weeks that has some great ones for those younger readers, plus a nice selection of older action comics for kids in upper elementary. Over in the podcast we’ll chat about two great Disney themed releases, Mech Cadet Yu and more. If you’re looking for three go-to all age comic books that will be OK for kids 5 and up , read on.
True Believers
Marvel Comics True Believers are reprints of classic issues in the Marvel Comic cannon. This week it’s all about Fantastic Four with three issues from the 1960’s and one issue from the 1970’s. These comics are OK for readers aged 7 and up, but realistically younger kids might not be attracted to the artwork. Ages 9 and up will enjoy these the most and anyone who purchases them will love the price of only $1.
Ducktales #10
We mentioned in the podcast before that Ducktales is back baby! They’ve got all new tales in comic books on IDW Publishing. This is an important note because many of the Disney stories that IDW puts out were previously published in another language. Ignore the fact that if it’s the first time that you’re reading it then it’s new to you anyway. These are all new stories featuring Donald’s nephews as they look for treasure, explore things, frustrate Donald and otherwise have a great time-which your Disney fan who is aged 8 and up will too.
The content in Ducktales is great for an all age comic book. The reason I’m suggesting it’s for ages 8 and up is due to the reading that required to enjoy it.
Casper and Hot Stuff #1
Similar to how IDW and some of their Disney titles publish previous stories that were in another language. American Mythology Productions has brought many of the Harvey Comics characters back so that new audiences can discover them. As a kid I still remember my neighbor who only collected Harvey Comics. We took a trip to the beach one summer and the two of us just read and traded all manner of Wendy, friends and more. My favorite title that I remember was Casper and Hot Stuff. I liked the earnestness of Casper, but I also liked the kid friendly maliciousness of Hot Stuff.
They’re back in an all story, Casper and Hot Stuff #1. This is one of those all age comic books that kids 5 and up can jump into and easily enjoy. Even their slightly surly older sibling who is 9 will enjoy this comic book.
Humor
Super
DC
Action
All age comic books for July 4
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And a Happy July 4th to you if you’re in the U.S.; plus a belated Canada Day to our friends up there. We also wish the cat meme of your choice if you’re reading this from elsewhere, now on with the new all age comic books for the week of July 4. Is your local comic book store open on July 4th? I don’t know, but check out Comic Book Store Locator, type in your zip code and you can contact them to check into that.
Over in the podcast we’ll chat about Hilda and the Stone Forest, a slew of Disney and DC books and a classic series of books that never go out of style with a new one this week. All of these are some of the top all age comic books for the week of July 4. In addition to that, check out these three, some of which are great for ages 5 and up.
Disney PIXAR Incredibles 2 one-shot
Have you seen Incredibles 2 yet? It’s a very good movie and proves that sequels to great PIXAR films can stand alone, even years after the first one, as worthy films that are entertaining and don’t feel like a rip off. Disney PIXAR and Joe Books take that good mojo off of the screen and into a one-shot comic book that is great for all ages. This concentrates on the family aspect of the Incredibles, expect lots of Jack-Jack, family humor and superhero action. It’ll be great for ages 5 and up, but those younger ages will need help reading the content.
True Believers Fantastic Four Coming of Galactus
True Believers is a series of comics that Marvel Comics puts out that reprints classic issues from their catalogue. Some of these issues are classics, like from the 60’s, while others are new classics like ones from the 90’s. The Coming of Galactus is an issue from the early 60’s that features Galactus and the FF. The kicker is that it’s only $1 and the content is great for any age as long as they like action. There is some reading, so younger ages won’t be able to read it without help, but they’ll love looking at the classic art.
Ghoul Scouts, I Was a Teenage Werewolf!
From the title Ghoul Scouts to the setting of this mini-series, Camp Lake Crystal, older readers know that their tongue should be fully in cheek. However, younger readers will be fully enthralled in this just-scary-enough mini-series from Action Lab Entertainment. Ghoul Scouts features five teens as they fight zombies and monsters, all the while navigating the difficult task of being a teenager and being in their home town. This is fun stuff that ages 8 and up will enjoy and parents can rest easy knowing that the content is OK too.
Ghoul scouts, I was a teenage werewolf, action lab entertainment, true believers, the coming of Galactus, marvel comics, Disney, Disney PIXAR, Incredibles 2, all age comic books
The all age comic books this week include True Believers, DC Super Hero Girls, lots of Disney, Hilda and the Stone Forest in paperback and more.
Humor
Superhero
Action/Science-fiction
Perfectly Norman is just about that in a children’s book
Children are fascinating creatures who are impossible to understand. They have secrets, friendships that are needlessly complex and make small matters seem like mountains that they’ll never be able to overcome. In short, children are just like us, except a couple decades younger and can text faster than you. Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival is a children’s book that perfectly encapsulates an element of what being a kids is like. It’s their belief that nobody is like me. Nobody has this and everybody else is living the life of Riley. Continue reading Perfectly Norman is just about that in a children’s book
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, fabulous allegory and all
Penelope Rex is at a crossroads. She’s about to go to school and it’s a bit time change. Either she’s going into kindergarten or first grade; it’s one of those landmark years in early elementary school. She’s quite worried about making friends in her class and how they’ll treat her, given that she’s a T. Rex. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins is laugh-out-loud comfort food for readers 4-8. This is the kind of book that parents don’t mind reading more than once. It’s a great-good-night book and one that will make it through to the grandchildren’s library in 20 years or so.
Continue reading We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, fabulous allegory and all
Win a family 4-pack of ticket to the Atlanta sneak of Hotel Transylvania 3
Our kids are pumped to see Hotel Transylvania 3-have you heard? We’re also quite excited to be giving away 4 family 4-packs of tickets to the Atlanta sneak preview of Hotel Transylvania on Saturday, July 7. The screening is at 11:00 AM and we’ll email the winner links to where they can get their tickets.
Win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Atlanta premier of Hotel Transylvania 3
The plot to Hotel Transylvania 3 finds Drac in dire need of a vacation. They find a cruise that’s tailored to the monster set and the Drac Pack take part in all sorts of cruise ship shenanigans. Think of a parlor contest, ship-going on game and one of the monsters that you or your kids have loved in the first two movies are in there having fun. Everything seems to be going too well and sure enough there just might be a dark, hidden agenda for the cruise that they don’t know about yet.
Hotel Transylvania 3 comes out in movie theaters on July 13. This giveaway is for a 4-pack of tickets to the Atlanta sneak preview on 11:00 AM. It’s at a theater in Roswell, about 15 minutes north of Atlanta. The winners will be emailed links to the tickets so that they can claim them, as well as, more specific information.
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