THE MIDDLE-ROUTE RUN

In this sophomore effort, skeleton Rickety Stitch and his amorphous amigo attempt to solve the mystery of Rickety’s shadowy past.

Reanimated skeleton and bard Rickety Stitch, along with his gelatinous companion, Goo, is still trying to find mythical Epoli in hopes of learning about his formerly living self. To get there, the pair must journey up the Middle-Route Run, a precarious path where travelers race through endless danger and vandals. Rickety and Goo join a musical ensemble on a caravan transporting a vast, dubiously obtained treasure down the route; double-crosses, hijinks, and surprises ensue. Propelled by constant, comical action, most of the scenes, although busy, only offer enough to tantalize and not satisfy; Rickety discovers only the barest tidbits about his past, leaving readers hopeful that more will be revealed in later offerings. Evinced through large, bright panels, the art is alluringly vivid and kinetic, with a strong animated feel. While the previous volume was suffused with wonderfully irreverent humor, however, this one shies away from such cheek, veering into middle-grade–level jokes and gentler insults. Readers expecting banter on par with Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona might be a bit discouraged to see it more comparable to Jeff Smith’s Bone.

A bit of a sophomore slump but not enough to dampen fans’ spirits for subsequent adventures.