Doug TenNapel

STORY:
This is the conclusion of the Nnewts trilogy. It’s been a while since I first read the other books, but thankfully there are a few callbacks to previous moments so I got up to speed rather quickly. Was the pace a bit fast and did some things not get answered with complete clarity? Did the characters make asinine decisions? Well yeah, but I might still be on the fumes of finishing-a-series-joy, so I’m most likely overlooking it. I liked this book.

The Battle for Amphibopolis reminded show more me of the Bible, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter (tho I haven’t actually seen LoTR or HP) mixed into one.

I never thought a story with so many (permanent) deaths would leave me feeling satisfied. I mean if this were any other story, I would have been like

The little dash of romance was sweet but not entirely believable due to the age range of the recipients. I think they were supposed to be like 12, and like I said before it’s been a while since I read the second book. But didn’t Herk only know her for like a few days?

Anyway, when I saw Herk’s parents in “heaven” so to speak, I started tearing up. I don’t know why, but it really had me in my feelings.

CHARACTERS:

Herk is pretty much the same as before except this time he has to deal with trying to stall a Lizzard transformation.

Sissy had a less prominent role in this book. She got these great powers, but the potential for them just kind of fizzled out at the end.

Zerk was there as well. :p

I loved Launa and her father. Their relationship was heartwarming, and I enjoyed Launa’s strong determination so much. I mean she was tempted with a very strong thing, but she turned it down. Respect.

ART:
I like the cartoony style and the colorful singing geckos? lizards? were so cute. Nice color direction overall.

OVERALL:
This is a fun graphic novel series though admittedly very violent at times. I give this book 4 out of 5, but as for the series as a whole, I don’t know. I will just say it’s a good series and leave it at that. show less

With a plot reminiscent of Gremlins and a visual style familiar to anyone who played the video game classic Earthworm Jim, this is a fun read. No real surprises, and it seems like a character has to stop and reflect every fifth page, but it's nice to see the three character arcs progress.

A perfectly fine young adult graphic novel.

It is Cam's birthday, and his widower father is out of a job and cannot afford a present. The best he can acquire is a cardboard box that a mysterious man sells him, on certain conditions. Father and son get to work, and make a robot from the cardboard. The robot comes to life.

Cam wants more, but there is not enough cardboard, so his dad invents a cardboard gadget to make more magic cardboard. That's fine until the bully next door gets involved.

This is an imaginative and exciting story, with show more a graphic style that adds a considerable sense of pace and action. It has its sensitive moments as well, without being sappy. Highly recommended. show less

TenNapel is very talented when it comes to compelling characters, drawing style and world-building. His narrative structures and transitions are pretty clunky, but that just is what it is. This is a more traditional story (and more geared at a YA audience I believe) than his weirder stuff like Iron West and Gear.

I'd be very curious to see what Pixar would do with this as a movie and how they'd beef up the character development and story arc.