Monday, March 8, 2010

New Kid-Friendly Comics Collections, 3/10/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

This week, Disney continues to roll out some great comics, both from their own imprint and through their partnership with BOOM! Studios.

Also, don't forget to click on the links of the Collected Editions to purchase these titles at the Amazon store at huge discounts!

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Review – “Foiled” by Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro


2010. First Second Books, New York. 160 pages.

Recommended Reading Age: 16+

Role-playing games. Fencing. Frog dissection. Enya. Boys who can only be described as 'beautiful'. Foiled's narrator and protagonist Aliera Carstairs (that's a mouthful, no?) loves 'em all. Okay, maybe not frog dissection. In Foiled, Aliera (who also narrates) tells a tale of teenage awkwardness that is compounded by her love of all things Geek. And when she finds out that the 'weapon' (i.e. fencing sword or 'foil') that her mother picked up at a thrift store is actually Aliera's ticket to a real fantasy world of faeries, dragons, gnomes and the like, it seems like fitting in at school is the least of her worries.

Unfortunately, even an inexperienced reader sees the high-school-drama-turned-fantasy plot coming a mile away, and the payoff falls flat. When after nearly 100 excruciatingly slow-paced pages in which Aliera obsesses over the new boy in school, the author (an accomplished YA writer, nonetheless) finally reveals in full the fantastic 'twist', it's far too late to save the narrative. Too much time has been devoted to rote teenage angst and schmaltzy friendships here, and as a result Aliera comes off as a whiny good-girl bookworm whom it is difficult for the reader to care about. (Don't even get me started on the 'strong female protagonist' trope in so common in YA literature; too transparently are the authors' personalities projected onto their female leads, and in reality many 'average' students find these protagonists unbearable.)

While at first blush the art of Foiled is impressive, as an experienced comics reader I find it in direct opposition to the narrative. While the story itself is straightforward to the point of being unoriginal, the perspective and panel layouts seem to be trying too hard to make a statement. Devoting a two-page spread of Grand Central Station (even if it is beautifully drawn), for instance, does not serve the greater purpose of advancing the plot. Such an iconic image need not be reproduced here, and though it is only one example of a misuse of using a visual narrative, it is a telling one. This is only one of many moments I found myself racing through in order to get the 'big reveal'.

Foiled's storytelling is too predictable, its characterization too familiar, and its art too disconnected to be a fun read. Simply put, I would not recommend this book for a school or classroom library
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New Kid-Friendly Comics Collections, 3/3/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

It's a slow week for comics, but the Invincible Iron Man Omnibus would be nice addition to a classroom library, as the story is pretty true to the recent blockbuster film.

Also, don't forget to click on the links of the Collected Editions to purchase these titles at the Amazon store at huge discounts!

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

New Kid-Friendly Comics, 2/24/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

If you're interested in having students do a cultural study of comics over time, or maybe even how the pop culture of specific time periods has changed, check out the newest Batman Chronicles (Vol. 9).  This series reprints every Batman story in exact chronological order.  I've been reading and writing about the Superman version of this book over at my other blog and have found it to be fascinatingly campy.

Also, don't forget to click on the links of the Collected Editions to purchase these titles at the Amazon store at huge discounts!

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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Monday, February 15, 2010

New Kid-Friendly Comics, 2/17/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

I've been hearing nothing but good things about the new-ish Power Girl series.  It'd be nice to have some superhero comics in the classroom with strong female characters taking the lead.  Plus, the amazing (pun-intended) Michael Lark is the artist on this week's Amazing Spider-Man, so that issue will definitely be worth a look!

Don't forget to click on the links of the Collected Editions to purchase these titles at the Amazon store at huge discounts!

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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Thursday, February 11, 2010

New Kid-Friendly Comics, 2/10/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

Considering we just finished a King Arthur unit, I'll definitely be picking up Muppet King Arthur #1.  Boom! Studios has been doing a fantastic job with these Muppets titles.

Don't forget to click on the links of the Collected Editions to purchase these titles at the Amazon store at huge discounts!

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

New Kid-Friendly Comics, 2/4/10

Since new comics are released every Wednesday here in the States, I thought I'd organize a list of the kid-friendly comics available this week.  I've included links to previews (courtesy of Comic Book Resources) where available.  As always, thanks to iFanboy for the list of new releases.

I know that a few of my students are excited that Crogan's March is available today.  They read Crogan's Vengeance and really enjoyed it.

Single Issues:   
Collected Editions:
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