Shirley and Jamila’s Big Fall

Lately, given my SherlockComics.com project, I tend to get asked “what’s a good Sherlockian comic for kids?” Since Muppet Sherlock Holmes is long out of print, this is my new first choice. Gillian Goerz’s previous book, Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer, introduced the intrepid detective and her devoted friend and storyteller. Shirley and Jamila’s Big Fall goes further in loosely adapting an actual Sherlock Holmes story. Blackmailer Charles Augustus Milverton here becomes school bully Chuck Milton. He’s class president, […]

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The Tryout

Christina, whose father came to Texas from Thailand, and her best friend Megan, Iranian-American, decide to try out for cheerleading now that they’re in seventh grade. The Tryout (written by Christina Soontornvat; art by Joanna Cacao) is based on the author’s own experience, and that’s why this reads so authentically. Occasional racism is part of her everyday existence, unsurprising for a small Texas town, but of more immediate impact to Christina’s life is what this competition means to her friendship. […]

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Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia Part Two

The fan-favorite storyline concludes in this volume, collecting the four issues of the miniseries. The previous book ended with John coming face-to-face with Irene Adler, thought to be dead, in a mysterious, deserted power station. That’s where Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia Part Two picks up. Irene and John spat, Sherlock rescues Mrs. Hudson from the Americans, and events spiral wildly out of control from there. It was so much fun reliving the events of this episode. The second season […]

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Batman’s Mystery Casebook

It’s such a pleasure to see Batman’s detective skills emphasized in Batman’s Mystery Casebook, a surprisingly educational graphic novel written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Christopher Uminga. Batman explains some basic crime-solving techniques to Batgirl and Robin, including brief history lessons. Fingerprints, footprints and other tracks, DNA, and eyewitness testimony, among others, are covered, then those techniques are used in mini-mysteries. The reader is told when to stop and figure things out, then they can see if they found […]

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History Comics: The Roanoke Colony: America’s First Mystery

History Comics: The Roanoke Colony: America’s First Mystery by Chris Schweizer is a fact-filled, fascinating read that uses the mystery of what happened to the Roanoke Colony to explore many political and cultural questions stemming from English settlement attempts in North America. In case you’re not familiar with the story — I’d heard it before, but I grew up in North Carolina, and I still learned more from this book than I ever did there — the Roanoke Colony was […]

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Fence Volume 5: Rise

The boys’ fencing school series continues with a new original volume, and I’m so glad to see it’s still going. In Fence: Rise (the fifth volume of the graphic novel series, written by C.S Pacat, art by Johanna the Mad), the fiercely competitive Seiji is finding himself more open to his first friendship with his roommate, the scrappy, garrulous Nicholas. The team goes to a training camp, where their members face off against several other schools and fencers, revealing more […]

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History Comics: The National Parks: Preserving America’s Wild Places

There is a ton of material packed into the 128 pages of History Comics: The National Parks: Preserving America’s Wild Places, with new information on almost every page. A Sasquatch introduces us to how national parks can include scenic vistas, natural wildernesses, and historic sites, answering an eagle’s questions about who creates parks and why there are so many different kinds. Along this journey, the reader visits the first parks, Yosemite and Yellowstone, and meets a wide variety of historical […]

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Ghosts of Science Past

Trevor sleeps through biology class until spirits show him how amazing scientific discovery can be, just in time for tomorrow’s quiz. Ghosts of Science Past is a creative blend of A Christmas Carol, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, graphic biography, and true science comics. The ghost of Charles Darwin starts Trevor off on his adventure. He explains the scientific method before warning him he “will be haunted by three scientists” that will guide him to learning what he needs to […]

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