It’s the New Comic Book Day after Free Comic Book Day and it’s

OK if you’re feeling just a small comic book hangover. Typically the NCBD after

FCBD is a bit light. I wouldn’t say it’s light this year, there’s certainly

something for lots of readers who are six and up, but the heavy hitters aren’t

here this week. In a way that’s a great thing because it frees up some titles

that don’t get enough Oxygen, as well as some cool graphic novels that will

hook the crowd for all age comic books.  In

the podcast we’ll talk about Windy Day by Tony Sandoval, The Unbeatable

Squirrel Girl, 5 Worlds The Red Maze, Ronin Island, Samuai Jack and much more.

For now, here are three great all age comic books that will get kids reading

the things that they want to read.

Disney Pixar Toy Story 4 Little Golden Book

Do not purchase Disney Pixar Toy Story 4 Little Golden Book

if you’re hoping to gain spoilers about the movie. This soon to be classic

Little Golden Book about the Toy Story gang is based on the film. However,

these characters are timeless and will resonate with any reader 2 or older.

Plus it’s presented in the classic Little Golden Book format and priced at only

$4.99.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6

Spider-Man has lots of comic book incarnations. If you’re

looking for a realistic, contemporary Spider-Man that has lots of action, but

also focuses on the ‘neighborhood’ aspect of our web crawler, this is for you. It’s

also one of the great all age comic books that doesn’t skimp on the action.

Younger readers will also enjoy it because the characters are drawn more

realistically than the superheroes in the fabulous all age comic book, Marvel

Action Spider-Man. There’s a subtle difference that makes that title great for

ages 6 and up, whereas the former is great for ages 8 and up. There’s a little

more reading, slightly more advanced plot mechanisms and deeper thoughts needed

to really enjoy this one, but enjoy it they will.

Carmen Sandiego: The Sticky Rice Caper

Where is the world is Carmen Sandiego? We’ve been asking that

question for decades and kids have found out, but they still keep asking.

Carmen Sandiego is back on Netflix and to correspond to that, Carmen Sandiego: The

Sticky Rice Caper is out as a graphic novel for middle elementary school and

up. This graphic novel will stick very closely to episode 3 from this Netflix

series where she goes to Indonesia and find adventure, bio terror (in a palatable

elementary format of course) and lots of education, but don’t tell the readers.

This is fun stuff that harkens back to what old school moms and dads will

remember, but contemporizes it for today’s youth. It’s awesome and check

yourself if it hurt to say, much less type out “today’s youth”.

Humor

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Free Comic Book Day is nigh. The first Saturday of every May is Free Comic Book Day and this week has more than a dozen great (and free!) comic books for ages 6 and up. There is also a costume contest with the winners in various categories receiving $500 in free comic books and stuff from your local store. For all of the details on Free Comic Book Day just dig into their website.

All of this free stuff on Saturday doesn’t mean that the new

all age comic books are taking a back seat to anything. In the podcast we’ll

chat about Marvel Action, Goosebumps, Frozen, Giant Days and more. For now here

are three comic books that will entertain-and be appropriate for ages 6 and up.

 

Disney Frozen: Reunion Road

Disney Frozen is like kryptonite to our two boys. However,

to some kids this mini-series from Dark 

Horse will fit that frozen bill until Frozen 2 arrives in theaters later

this  year. The art in Disney Frozen:

Reunion Road is gorgeous and the story will speak to those kids 6 and up that

like the film. In this mini-series everyone is trying to get to the Harvest

Festival, but Olaf is separated from the group. Disney Frozen: Reunion Road

retails for $3.99 and is from Dark Horse.

Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir: New Hero

As a television show, Miraculous is a guilty pleasure. There’s

a Wild, Wild West aurora about it when Ladybug brings out the Miraculous and

has to choose between a series of objects that allow her to solve the problem.

This graphic novel from Action Lab is cut from the same cloth as the show. It’s

packed with sharp lines, bright colors and hand-picked scenes from the show.

This graphic novel retails for $8.99 and will entertain kids 6 and up, those

who like the show or those passive fans who don’t want to admit that they enjoy

it.

Blastosaurus, Volume 2

Blastosaurus is everything that young readers want from an

all ages comic book. It’s got elementary aged characters, over the top action,

an insane plot, monsters and more. This is New Zealand’s best selling comic

book and once you see it you’ll know why. Think Savage Dragon, but with an all

age sentiment and younger side-kicks. Blastosaurus, Volume 2 collects issues

4-6 from this mini-series that will become one of your favorites. There is also

a Free Comic Book Day issue that features Blastosaurus, so keep an eye out for

that.  

Humor

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The new all age comic books for the week are nigh and this

week speaks just a little bit differently. May the Fourth Be With You is just

around the corner, so there are a couple great Star Wars comic books. There is

also this indie film called Avengers: Endgame and there are a couple great all

age comic books that highlight some of those characters. In the podcast we’ll

look at Marvel Action, Galaxy’s Edge (the comic book!), chat a little about

Free Comic Book Day on May 4 and more. For now let’s look at three comic books

that will interest those in middle schools and up.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, #42

Comic book stunt casting exists. It’s when you put big,

well-known superheroes in other series that aren’t doing as well in hopes that

their readers will jump over for an issue or two and get hooked. Moon Girl and

Devil Dinosaur is from Marvel Comics and one of the best all age comic books

that you can pick up on a monthly basis. It’s loaded with comic book action,

has a great superhero that is 100% relatable to ages 8 or older, plus she has a

big red dinosaur that comes along for the ride. The plots are fabulous, creative

and the art is great. There are also lots of superhero crossovers. Almost every

issue has a big MCU superhero who is making a guest appearance.

Do not mistake this for a desperate attempt at stunt

casting.

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is the kind of comic book that

needs to be in every elementary school library. It’s wonderfully weird, loaded

with action and great for 8 and up.

Unicorn Bowling, Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

If you have a kid in elementary school they are probably

down with Phoebe and Her Unicorn. These books are hilarious, great for any age

north of 8 and will make older readers think of their favorite comic strip.

Author Dana Simpson has two original graphic novels staring Phoebe. Unicorn

Bowling is a collection of previously released comic strips. Much like Big Nate

or (insert your favorite comic strip here) this is a book that have you

laughing out loud, grinning and loving every panel of it.

Zero’s Journey, #9

Thou shalt never remake Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before

Christmas. I’m not sure if that’s an actual commandment, but we’d be OK if it

were in the Hollywood animation holy place, wherever that’s located. The

closest we’ll hopefully ever get is this mini-series from Tokyo Pop, Zero’s

Journey. It’s all Zero, Jack Skellington’s dog has gone missing and it’s highly

likely that Lock, Stock and Barrel are somehow responsible for putting our

ghost canine in Christmas Town.

Humor

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Inspector Flytrap approves. For that matter, so do Princess Labelmaker, Emperor Pickeltine, Origami Yoda and many others. Tom Angleberger is the author that lives in your child’s library.   The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and its series is what your middle school student knows the best. That series of books has sold more than four million copies. The elementary school reader knows Inspector Flytrap and laughed along the way with this very enjoyable series. Now, from the pages of Inspector Flytrap comes Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster. This is the first in a three-book mini-series about a spy who is also a dodo and your first through fourth grade readers will love this book.

Our fourth grade student took the book from my office and

promptly misplaced it. Coincidentally, he lost it after he read it, so he was

able to tell me that it was great, very funny and much like Inspector Flytrap.

I asked him to go into detail about the book and all he could remember was that

it was about Didi Dodo and a stolen brownie recipe. “Oh, but you’ll love it”,

he reassured me.

Sure enough, after finding the book he was right. Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster is just the sort of book that kids in fist through fourth grade will love. Those on the younger side of that range will need to read it with someone older, but those third graders will be able to breeze through the book and enjoy every moment.

It has the same vibe as Inspector Flytrap and that’s because

Angleberger wanted this character to live in the same world as her erstwhile

bug eating friend. He’s creating his own elementary school, early chapter book

universe where they can cross over, ever so briefly for a cameo, guest spot or

assistance solving crimes. There is a little crossover in this book, but for

the most part it’s all Didi Dodo, plus Koko Dodo-who is a great baker, Cousin

Yuk Yuk, Penguini and a couple others.

The chapters in the book are short enough for struggling readers

to read one and feel accomplished. They’re also short enough for. The book is

also complimented with illustrations by Jared Chapman. Chapman has a way of

drawing characters that perfectly capture the chaos and mayhem that they’re

thinking. You’re looking for an angry yak that looks like Slim Pickens mixed

with a James Bond villain? No problem he’s in the book and provides horsepower

of energy to keep our future spy hero on the run towards success.

Didi Dodo: Future Spy, Recipe for Disaster is great. Kids will reread it a couple of times and then ask when the next one comes out. This is where you can recommend Inspector Flytrap if they’re in elementary school or age them up a bit for the Origami Yoda series. Either way they’ll have a hoot of a time while they wait for the next one.

New comic book day is every Wednesday. As part of this day

there are dozens of great all age comic books, many of which will be great for

ages 6 and up. Yes Virginia, comic books for the elementary school age

audience. They exist and are easier to find than you might otherwise think. In

the podcast we’ll chat about buying children’s books by the pound, Steven

Universe, DC Super Friends, William the Last, Detective Comics the Complete

Covers and more.  For now let’s look at

three comic books that will entertain those elementary and middle school

students who are looking for a cool read.

Star Wars Adventures, #20

Star Wars Adventures brings the fun back to a galaxy far,

far away. This monthly series from  IDW

publishing covers all areas of the Star Wars universe with a very kid friendly

twist. The art and content are OK for elementary school aged and up, but

because it’s also Star Wars, those older kids might want to dig into it too.

There are usually two stories in each issue, a longer one that is more action

oriented and a shorter one that’s more comedic. This is one of the gateway

reading vehicles that kids will love and it’s also a great comic book and the

fact that it has both characteristics is quite the treat.

Adventure Time Marcy & Simon

What happened after Adventure Time ended its run on Cartoon

Network?  Well, the characters are still

producing new mini-series of comic books on Boom! Studios. Adventure Time,

Marcy & Simoon #4 of #6 is out this week and sees Simon and Ice King

fighting to see who’s the top dog. Fans of Adventure Time, those middle school

students (or older) who are looking for something fun and tripp will dig this.

Lumberjanes

Lumberjanes is a great comic book. The fact that’s it’s one

of the great all age comic books is even more impressive. It’s as much a

comedic comic book as it is jammed with science-fiction. In this issue our

campers discover a dangerous creature in the woods. Toss in lots of friendship,

great art, quick wit stories that upper elementary school and up will love and

you’ve got Lumberjanes. Pick up any issue of this series from Boom! Studios and

you won’t be disappointed.

Humor

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This week the new all age comic books are laden with some great

choices for readers as young as 6 years old. To be clear, this is a laden

swallow, whose airspeed velocity is certainly comprised, especially if it’s an

African Swallow as they don’t migrate. Over in the podcast we’ll chat about a

cool coloring book from Disney for older audiences, Science Comics: Weather

from :01 First Second, Wonder Twins and much more. For now, here are three

great releases that will tickle the reading fancy of those 6 and up.

Clyde, by Jim Benton

You know Jim Benton’s work. Dear Dumb Diary, Dog Butts and Love, Franny K. Stein, Victor Shmud and more he’s an artist and author whose style you’ll recognize. Catwad came out last week. Clyde is out this week and is flat out funny for in second grade and up. It’s an original graphic novel about a grizzly bear who leaves his comfortable cave for the city, where he meets a butterfly from the wrong side of the tracks.

The Mutts Summer Diaries, by Patrick McDonnell

It’s Mutts, but with each comic strip set in the summer,

take my money. We love Mutts, it’s a classic comic strip that can be funny one

day, even funnier the next, remind you that cats (and dogs!) are awesome and

make us laugh or possibly  even adopt

one. The Mutts Summer Diaries is a collection previously released strips that

will appeal to those 6 and up.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, #43

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is the equivalent to all age comic

books of Deadpool. She’s irreverent, funny, faces danger and deals with bad

guys in her own particular, squirrel way. There is some reading in Unbeatable

Squirrel Girl, so it might be too much for seven year olds. However, those reading

eight year olds or older that want something fun, hip and impossibly cool need

to read this series. Each issue of this monthly series is trippy and lots of

fun.

Humor

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If you’re looking for a sign to dig into the cool all age comic cooks, this is it.

There are some weeks where a much higher than average number

of go-to comic books hit the shelf it’s a virtual no brainer to visit your

local comic book store. In the podcast we’ll chat about Dumbo, Scooby, Teen

Titans, Moon Girl and much more. To see the entire list of comic books that are

OK for ages 6 and up just look down in the post. For now let’s look at three

great comic books that will be great for elementary ages and up.  

Barbie: Fashion Superstar

The landscape for all age comic books has shifted

dramatically over the past couple of years. It’s gone from very few

girl-centric comics to very few all age super heroes to where now there is

something for every 6 and up. Barbie even has her line up of graphic novels

from Papercutz. Barbie: Fashion Superstar features her as a fashion entrepreneur

when things go awry at a show. It’s business savvy, plus the fashion sense that

people have come to expect from Barbie.

Looney Tunes #248

Go into any elementary school library and there’s bound to be

at least one issue of Looney Tunes. This is one of our go-to all age comic

books. If the kids or I are looking for a solid, entertaining comic book this

is it. As there’s no ongoing story line each issue stands on its own. They’re

new stories, every other month that have that classic Warner Bros vibe. Bonus:

the Looney Tunes comic book is only $2.99.

Jim Henson Beneath the Dark Crystal #8 of #12

Jim Henson Beneath the Dark Crystal is a mini-series from

Boom Studios! The content isn’t gratuitous, but it’s realistically drawn and

has too much reading for elementary school kids to really enjoy. This is one

for those middle-Earth kids who want a fable, but not the Jack and the

Beanstalk variety. This story has its roots from The Dark Crystal and will be

of interest to those who liked it or are in middle school and want some fresh

goblins and monsters.

Humor

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Wednesday means new comic book day and this week has a nice

selection of new all age comic books, as well as, a couple graphic novels that

will rock the socks off of readers as young seven. Over in the podcast we’ll

chat about Mr. Wolf’s Class: Mystery Class, Sonic the Hedgehog and more. For

now let’s look at three great releases that will entertain parents as much as

they will readers in second grade.

Wings of Fire: The

Lost Heir

Wings of Fire is a gargantuan popular book series for upper

elementary school and up. It’s about dragons, the different clicks between them

and is a book series that our nine year-old is headlong into. Wings of Fire:

The Lost Heir is the graphic novel adaptation of the second book in that series

by the same name. Start off with the graphic novels. Start off with the books.

Either way your reader who is eight and up will absolutely love the adventure

that these books thrust you into.

Star Trek Vs.

Transformers #5 of 5

We love this crossover IDW Publishing has done. The first

four issues were spot-on great, they managed to capture the cavalier attitude

of 60’s era Star Trek, in addition to the 80’s era fun of Transformers. Put

them together in one great crossover and this is one of the best all age comic

books of the year. This is issue #5 of a five issue mini-series. Look around

closely and you’ll find the first four issues. If not, check out the trade

paperback when its released in a couple months. While the content is

appropriate for ages six and up, realistically it’ll be enjoyed most by those

nine and up as they’ll be familiar with the characters in the story.

Moon Girl and Devil

Dinosaur #40 

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is one of the best all age

comic books out there. This comic book is great for ages seven and up, boys or

girls and varies from camp superhero action to otherworldly adventure issue to

issue. This issue of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur has the team in a dreamscape

with Doctor Strange making a guest appearance. Try this comic book out once and

it’ll reward you with great art, a  quick

paced story and a go-to comic book every month.

Superhero

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New comic book day, it’s every Wednesday and this week has

some great releases. There are some books this week that are perfect for pre-K

readers!  Granted they are Golden Books,

but did you know that they produced some jamming, fun books that geeklings

would like to have read to them? We’ll cover that, as well as, Science Comics,

Dogman, Showtime at the Apollo, a great 60’s mash-up and more in the podcast

and Youtube. For now let’s look at three great new releases that are perfect

for readers in upper middle school and up.

Science Comics:

Polar Bears

Science Comics are a regular series of original graphic novels

from :01 First Second Books. Each one of these releases is as entertaining as

they are educational, but don’t tell some younger readers that. Science Comics:

Polar Bears is told from the perspective of two polar bear cubs as they

navigate the tundra that is their home. The story that they weave is all true,

with some biology, climate science and anatomy in there, plus more jokes than

you would expect. I love this series. Our 9 

year-old is a bit too young to really enjoy them; but if you have a

middle school reader or up they will really enjoy this fun and subversively

educational graphic novel.

Star Trek Vs.

Transformers #4

The Star Trek Vs. Transformers mini-series has really lived

up to the buzz. It puts the crew of Enterprise in no-man’s land as the Klingons

have teamed up with the Decepticons. The Autobots and Captain Kirk (of course)

aren’t far behind to save the day, upstage Spock and possibly kiss the girl (or

robot). Surprisingly, this mini-series really resonated with our 9 year-old. He

did not know the mythology of the characters, but he loved the art and could

easily read the story. This comic book and mini-series are OK for readers 8 and

up. Those younger will be fine with the content, just unable to read the words

needed to get the most from the plot.

Lumberjanes #58

Pick up any issue of Lumberjanes and it’s all but guaranteed

to be awesome. With equal parts humor, science-fiction and fantasy, this series about

the world’s coolest summer camp, Miss

Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types,

is fun for any reader. The main characters are Jo, April, Molly, Mal and

Ripley, they’re all girls and given the name of the camp it’ll probably skew

more towards girls than boys. Between the art, the unpredictable stories of

yetis, friendships and lake monsters this is great fun and OK for ages 8 and

up.  

Humor

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Happy NCBD and this week has some great ones that will entertain all age comic book readers as young as 6. That is mainly due to one classic comic book about ponies, who are little, live in Equestria and can fly, we’re looking at you My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Over on  Youtube and in the podcast we’ll chat about Peanuts, Tiger vs. Nightmare, Steven Universe and more. Now let’s look at three comic books that will entertain a wide variety of readers in upper elementary school and up.

Doctor Who 13th, #1

The new doctor, Doctor Who, the 13th Doctor, that’s who. Doctor Who 13th, #1 is out and it’s the all new doc played by Jodie Whittaker. Some things are the same, but she’s got three new traveling companions and the TARDIS is still most certainly bigger on the inside. The content will be OK with upper elementary school kids, but might require too much reading and focus for some of them.

Ducktales, #14

Sometimes Disney’s Ducktales on IDW Publishing enter into a two-part story and this is the first part of one. Kids love Disney with a little more ‘edge’ and that’s exactly what Ducktales allows them. Younger readers will be attracted to the content-and it is OK for them to consume. However, the reading and vocabulary that’s required to fully enjoy Ducktales will be too much for those who aren’t in third grade to enjoy on their own.

Steven Universe Harmony #4

This past Halloween a couple of the really cool kids dressed as characters from Steven Universe. Steven Universe Harmony is a mini-series set in the Steven Universe world that’s worth exploring if you’re a fan of the Crystal Gems. This is a great television series (from Cartoon Network) and comic book from Boom! Studios. The content is OK for upper elementary school kids, but they might not appreciate it as much as they would if they were two grades older.

 

Humor

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