COPPER

First introduced as a webcomic and then in the Flight anthologies, wide-eyed Copper and his fretful dog Fred smoothly transition into their own collection of tales. Told in short vignettes interspersed with a few longer interludes, this episodic volume is a compilation rather than a single story with an overarching narrative. Reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes, Copper and Fred have fantastic, imaginative adventures, where the quietly ordinary becomes extraordinary. Portrayed through a contemporary lens, Copper and Fred live in a post-9/11 world and have very real fears that manifest throughout; Fred is often apprehensive about the world at large, though he’s nicely balanced by Copper, who radiates an innocent optimism. While fanciful, Copper and Fred’s exploits never spill outside of their panels, which establish a fixed boundary to their otherwise fantastic world. Those seeking similar action and thrills of Kibuishi’s fan-favorite Amulet series may be disappointed; this is a more muted work, with a subtle philosophical undercurrent. For thoughtful readers, this whimsical pastiche of imagination and dreams may be just the ticket. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)