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Best all age comic books for January 25

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After a relatively low number of new all age comic books last week things are roaring back with a balanced, massive load of new comics. This is the kind of week where there is something for everyone, regardless of their reading level or how long it’s been since they stepped food into a comic book store. Let’s take a look at the Disney books this week. Every couple of week’s Joe Books releases their Disney all age comic books and each one of them has a certain target.

This week a new Job Book comes out and Disney Pixar Cars #1 is certain to be a hit with ages 5 and up. While some may (rightfully) have questioned the caliber of Cars 2 the film, its marketing and retail presence in terms of money earned puts it in the same league as Star Wars, Harry Potter and even Toy Story. Disney Princess #9, Disney Pirates of the Caribbean #3, Disney Darkwing Duck #7 and Disney Frozen #5 are also out. These Joe Books are fun to read, have great art and really suit their characters well, spelling out their movie adventures to a solid comic book story effectively.

In other humor comic book young readers can dig into Scooby Doo Team Up, Looney Tunes and Simpsons Illustrated. Those first two books are especially attractive due to their $2.99 price point.

For superhero all age comic books you’ve got a chance to jump into issue #3 of one of the best superhero titles we’ve read in years. Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures has a series of portholes opening up between Gotham and NYC with many of Batman’s classic villains meeting the heroes in a half shell. Granted the whole ‘porthole’ concept is familiar and possibly overused. However, the result in this comic book is so fabulous that even adult readers will eagerly buy into the plot device.

What makes Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures so great is that it’s respectful to the all age audience. It delivers action, humor and great characters without dumbing them down or making it seem like a ‘kid comic’. This is one of those comic books that parents and kids will read together and enjoy every moment of it.

This week also has the graphic novel Voltron Legendary Defender out. It collects all five issues from the Lion Forge mini-series. Voltron is packed with action, bright colors and a story that will really hook readers 6 and up. It’s also a smart comic book where the team has to rely on their brains, as well as, their brawn to accomplish things. Much like Batman TMNT it accomplishes this without belittling it’s readers.

Still more: Lumberjanes, Over the Garden Wall (great for those folk story kids, with a touch of Adventure Time), Plants Vs. Zombies and more. It’s a great week to see what all age comic books are out there introduce your young reader too-guaranteed there’s something form ages 5 and up.

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science-fiction

Toys

Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 review

Call it the end of year madness (coupled with the fact that we got the flu) and the continuing march of time, but we never reviewed Batman Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2. This comic book came out a couple of weeks ago and is one that needs to be on your reading radar for the fact that it blends together two super franchises so well into an all age comic.

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Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Giants #2, large and in charge

The Storyteller is the titular character created by Jim Henson in the late 80s to weave together various stories. He’s accompanied by his trusty dog who is usually resting by the fireplace. Think of the Storyteller as a kid-friendly version of the Crypt Keeper from Tales From The Crypt. This incarnation of everyone’s favorite chattering grandfather is Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Giants. Previously the Storyteller introduced us to dragons and witches, but this time he tells us tales of giants.

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Best all age comics for January 18, 2017

It’s mid-January and what are some of the best all age comics for this week? Let’s channel The Spice Girls and I’ll tell you what you want, what you really, really want, especially if you’re a young reader looking for some girl power. There is a misperception in some circles that there aren’t many all age comic books geared for girls. That is false. There are loads of comics that are great for boys or girls and this week sees the trifecta of go-to comics aimed almost exclusively at girls.

My Little Pony #36 has the Guardians of Harmony rising to protect Equestria. It brings action and just a bit of conflict to everyone’s favorite horses. These next two titles have similar age interests, but each does it with varying amounts of humor and camp. Powerpuff Girls #6 has lots of humor, camp and the most action of any of these three series. Strawberry Shortcake, HC, Volume 2 Strawberry Noir is more mysterious, with the girls deepening their friendships while trying to grow her business and more. It collects issues 3-5 of the monthly Strawberry Shortcake series on IDW. Any of those series will appeal to any girls aged 5 and up. The reading will be easiest in My Little Pony, Powerpuff Girls, followed by Strawberry Shortcake.

In outside the radar comics that will be fun for teen audiences check out Kong of Skull Island. This is now a monthly series and has art inside each issue that tells King Kong sized stories of action, humans behaving badly and other monsters.

Is your kid looking for all age comics that are down with superheroes? It’s a good week for that with issue #3 of Super Powers from DC Comics in store. The art in this mini-series is from Art Batlazar and Franco, whose work makes them all but synonymous with great all age comics. This mini-series brings all the big guns from DCU into the fold, getting the Art and Franco treatment. Teen Titans Go! TBP Volume 3 Mumbo Jumbo collects issues 13-18 of this great series. Kids 6 and up will love this comic book as much as they dig the television show.

Rounding some of the high points for the best new all age comics this week are Simpsons Comics #23 and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #11.

Humor

Superhero

Action/Science fiction

How to make Okonomiyaki

Oknomiyaki is one of our favorite Japanese dishes. When we lived in Japan it was a pleasure to find a restaurant that made it-which is surprising because it’s surprisingly simple to make Okonomiyaki, it just takes a little more than average time. First off, Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake with cabbage and seafood. Its technical written description doesn’t sound all that appetizing, but when you combine everything and watch those fish flakes shimmy it’s probable that it will show you that there are lots of food options past sushi when it comes to Japanese food.

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One Lonely Fish, A Counting Book With Bite, that doesn’t bite

When is a board book not a board book? It’s not that all counting books are board books mind you; it’s just that most of them are. One Lonely Fish has board book thick pages, as well as content that’s OK for them, but is in a big format rectangular book. It’s also fabulous, teaches young kids how to count, is fresh, original and may nudge your young child to a graphic design career.

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The Marvelous Thing That Came From A Spring, a true Hollywood Slinky story

Our 5YO loves Slinky. Every time he gets the chance to enter a ‘prize bag’ where he gets to choose something he’ll always go for the Slinky. Of course, this isn’t the real metal Slinky that works, these are the cheap plastic versions that don’t really work but allow him to lasso other toys. The Marvelous Thing That Came From A Spring is the true story of how inventor Richard James’ accidental idea sprang into a toy that would last for generations.

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Agnes and Clarabelle, early chapter books for young readers

Our oldest son’s reading teacher called the house the other day. She simply called to let us know that he was going to transition out of the ‘assisted’ class and back into the main class for reading. * He has been reading chapter books for a while and easily glides through the 10 page large print short stories his teacher sends home. For young readers that are transitioning to early chapter books Bloomsbury has a new line of books out called Read and Bloom. The first series of these young reader books are out and Agnes and Clarabelle is just the sort of thing that’ll engage elementary school students.

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