There’s a 1 on the spine of Jake Spooky and the Wolves Within Him. Jake Spooky is a punk rock ghost. He’s got the surly soul of today’s teens and throws up wolves, at least in this first book does that. Jake lives with Brand-O, a cool, flip-flop-wearing human with an old-school television as his head and an upright walking cat who doesn’t speak much, named Quincy. Elementary school graphic novel readers-Are you not entertained? If a graphic novel were a character in a movie, then Jake Spooky and the Wolves Within Him is Maximus Decimus. Its absurd, playful content gleefully runs circles around other early reader, graphic novels. Amidst all of this running, it still has the bandwidth to ask an obvious question, and yes, we are.
There’s something special about a book being out of print for a while. The classic animated Disney films used to go “in the vault” and then had a big hoop-de-do when they could be viewed again. Uncle Sam: Special Election Edition was out of print for over a decade. The only way to get your hands on it was to find the original two-issue comic book miniseries from 1997 or the graphic novel that followed its release. The 2024 presidential election is nigh and Uncle Sam: Special Election Edition is as pointed and aware as it was when it was originally released. It’s a beautiful, paranoid fever dream of a graphic novel that sears its way through the political spectrum leaving both sides wondering what went wrong with modern America.
Joy and utter happiness, there was a character in one episode of Phineas & Ferb that always amped up a party. It was the one where Cheesetopia in their backyard happened, and Perry was turned into a butler for Doofenshmirtz. The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella is a kid’s first graphic novel that lives and breathes happiness. Its colors, glossy pages, big illustrations, and emotive characters lovingly scream off of the pages in a way that will make early elementary school readers immediately attracted to the book.
Aspects of middle and high school represent the worst parts of agar. Agar is the gunk that’s collected in a petri dish. The school equivalent of agar gone bad are typically the entitled, popular, pretty without a conscious folk, jocks, bullies or those kids that have a chip on their shoulder for no meaningful reason. They’re the great heels in popular movies and will resonate with all readers in Witch For Hire. Witch For Hire is a graphic novel by Ted Naifeh that is 100% current, with real-world peer pressure and social strife that teens will encounter. It also adds a fabulous sense of dread, witches, and monsters that are just as real as the weight that popularity and social media add to today’s teens.
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
This week in all age comic books is for those who have been screaming for graphic novels. There are seven new all age graphic novels that are great for elementary aged readers. There are slightly fewer graphic novels that are out for middle school readers. But the fact that there are great options this week for pre-k geeklings is awesome and something to be celebrated.
Spider-Man fans of all ages and versions should yell out also. The Amazing Spider-Man Threats and Menaces volume 8 is out and collects issues 37-42 of this great monthly series for middle school readers. Mile Morales: Spider-Man #18 is out for that same age and if your reader is even younger then Miles Morales Spider-Man Little Golden Book hits stores also.
New comic book day is every Wednesday unless you’re looking for something from DC Comics. In that case, they arrive in stores every Tuesday. This week from DC Comics has DC Superhero Girls: Midterms and DC Justice League Christmas Heroes. The former is great for middle school readers and the later is perfect for pre-k through lower elementary emerging readers. For a look at all of this week’s all age comic books just scoot on past the image.
Why is the title character wearing antlers? That was the first thing that I thought when I saw the cover to Snapdragon. The summary about a young girl out to see if the witch that lives in town is eating pets is correct. Snap’s dog has gone missing and while she might be scared to confront the witch, she also needs to find her dog. By the 10th page Snap has solved that problem and is onto dispelling urban myths, discovering a bit her family, making friends and having a grand adventure.
This Wednesday is new comic book day, #NCBD if you’re posting on social media and this is a great week for all age comic books. In the podcast we’ll talk in depth about Lumberjanes, Ghostbusters, Uncle Scrooge and our son’s favorite comic book. Also out this week is Cosmo The Mighty Martian on Archie Comics. This is a great ongoing series that will appeal to elementary school fans who want something fun and cool to read. The comic book is loaded with colors, sharp writing and lots of action. If your library likes Sonic then they’ll really enjoy Cosmo.
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