A hole-in-one.
In this third graphic-novel installment of the imaginative fantasy/sports mashup, a young heroine must win a game of mini-golf to save a cursed kingdom.
Feisty Wiz and her giant companion, Mug, both brown-skinned, are fished out of the sea and brought ashore to a tiny village suffering terribly under a diabolical scourge that caused “famine, the plague…the game [to] all run off, and the fish too.” Believing her to be the Blue Fish of Favor, Wiz’s savior demands a wish, imploring Wiz to break the curse. The source of their torment is an evil green tyrant sent by the Archmage. Wiz soon discovers that the fearsome creature is obsessed with mini-golf and maintaining his perfect record. Challenged with saving not only the village’s livelihood, but also her life, will Wiz be able to putt her way to victory on the loathsome links? Meanwhile, Mug finds himself mixed up in a fairly mind-blowing wrestling match. This slim, oversized volume is fast and furious fun, mixing fantasy and sports in a distinct and refreshing way. Showing a mix of influences from European comics and Japanese manga, Bosma’s panels are bustling and lively with their propulsive use of sound effects and motion lines. Although it’s the third volume in the series, it is a great jumping-in point for new readers, although assume most will seek out the previous volumes for more adventures in this quirky and exciting world.
A hole-in-one. (Graphic fantasy. 9-14)Pub Date: July 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-910620-18-2
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Nobrow Ltd.
Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This too-ambitious graphic adaptation of the beloved childhood tale falls extremely short of the mark. In this reworking of Carroll’s great tale of whimsy and imagination, readers will be transported to a very clumsy, wonder-less Wonderland. Though Helfand hits most of the memorable points in the original story—the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the caterpillar, the Cheshire cat—the combination of the awkward art with text proves to be distracting. Nagulakonda’s maladroit art is ultimately this adaptation’s weakest spot; the strained, rough-hewn faces are nothing short of disconcerting. Alice’s face, in particular, is troubling in many panels, looking pained or vacant instead of possessing a look of wonder at her curious surroundings. The clunky adaptation and clumsier art will leave its readers cold. Given these flaws and comparing it to the development and sophistication of many of the graphic novels currently available, this feels like an amateurish work in desperate need of refinement. (Graphic classic. 9-12)
Pub Date: July 20, 2010
ISBN: 978-93-80028-23-1
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
Designed to look like a weatherworn comic found in the woods, this outrageously imaginative graphic novel touts itself as the “first extraterrestrial comic book on earth.” Through a series of untitled nonlinear vignettes, the wide-eyed and seemingly innocent-looking alien characters embark on a series of adventures (and misadventures) that capture intrinsically human characteristics. In some episodes, bright, boldly colored cutesy aliens—who bear a toy-like resemblance—juxtapose violent situations, portraying both beauty and horror, in smart cohesion. Evincing the cruelties, the comedies and the oft-bizarre traits of the protagonists through an inventive and unique format, Trondheim distinguishes himself as a trailblazer in the youth graphic-novel market. Readers will be delighted by the wordless tale with its endearing, yet rascally alien characters and the sometimes crude plot that encompasses a variety of motifs, from invoking compassion to scatological humor. Not for the younger set, but an accomplished offbeat selection worth considering. (Graphic novel. 12-14)
Pub Date: May 1, 2006
ISBN: 1-59643-095-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: First Second/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2006
BOOK REVIEW
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