Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka (Volume 14)

*I received this book from NetGalley in return for a fair review.*

Back when I used to read comic strips in the paper (and read newspapers, gah, I can still feel the print transferring and smearing onto my hands *shudders*), Nate was one of the comics I read. I have probably read a good many of the collections that have been put out, just not in the collected form - just by reading the strips in the paper. I mention all that because I appear to only actually have one book by Peirce in my catalog marked as read. Odd, that.

No matter. I was offered the opportunity to plunge myself back into this universe, and I accepted the challenge. And do what I sometimes do - the review as notes taken as I read:

hehe - well, the first strip is funny. So, show more so far I'm glad I got the chance to read this.
Nate: You're a celebrity. All over town you're known as "That guy who hands out lame Halloween candy." - hehe - ack. hehe. See, I'm already giggling, then the punchline came and I actually laughed outloud. Not sure children would necessarily get it, though. Maybe, not sure.

hehe - some relatively mundane strips followed by one that made me laugh out loud again. Good good.

Okay then. A mix of relatively flat comic strips and some rather funny. *nods* Several that made me laugh a little too loudly.

'You might have a future as a mime' - hehehehe

Bah, I was about to mention another funny line. But I can't keep putting them here, or I spoil other people's reads. No, I not be bad. So then, imagine this line here [redacted] - it was hilarious.

Dang, this thing keeps making laugh loudly. hmms. Who would have known, eh? Granted, part of this goes back to my first paragraph wherein I noted that I used to read this comic in the papers. Well, I haven't in a while so 99.9% of these strips in the collection are new to me. Therefore their humor is fresh and exciting.

Shesh. I just keep bursting with laughter.

Oh. I suppose I should mention something about what the book is about. Nate is a student at a school, P.S. something or other. Several reoccurring characters appear, like the teacher he hates, the girl he fancies, the girl he hates, the girl who fancies him, the people who are friends with him, the big sister, the balding fat dad, the dog who is in love with a cat. A cat. (No, I'm not saying that in shock or anything, I'm including the cat in the list of reoccurring characters).

Various story lines are followed, Nate and his attempts to keep from getting detention, his non-athletic/non-musical father who keeps trying to get involved athletically or musically; Nate's whining about Jenny and how she is with another guy and not him (a reoccurring theme in the series, though occurred less often than I expected in this collection). The attempt to write a fight song for the school. The attempt to get a sponsor for the baseball team (Nate visits several places, including a mention of visiting Victoria's Secret, to find this sponsor).

hehehe - oops sorry, here I am trying to break away from rambling by actually writing stuff, and I got interrupted by a really funny bit. Sorry about that. I'll try to contain my laughter (I'd mention what it was that was funny, but I've done that too often and do not wish to spoil to book).

Ah man, it's over. I'm super sad now because the comic strip collection suddenly ended. By the way, apparently this collection is in some way connected to 'amp! COMICS for kids'. To which I note: (1) I'm not a kid so I do not know if kids will enjoy the comic. It's possible. I know one or two punchlines might, possibly, be over their head. Depending on age. And general interests. (2) non-kids, as in humans and not the young of goats, should probably not be adversely impacted by seeing that 'comics for kids' on the label. Because it can be read by adults. At least one. Me. And I'm almost really old. But not yet. Hmm, if I joined the military I'd already have had 20 years in. Right, got distracted there.

I recommend this book to one and all. Who like humor. That includes this humor being presented by way of a youngish child.

February 21 2016 show less

Big Nate is juvenile and mild, sure, but the comic strip compilations are solid and consistent.

Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka is a collection of comic strips that tell short stories and will make you laugh. Nate is in grade 6 and is dealing with the types of problems adolescents face every day. The book is made up of secions that are made up of several short comics. Some of the storylines are Hallowe'en, his baseball team and their name, getting in trouble at school and his dog who is in love with a cat.

There are some stories that refer back to stories from previous books, but you do not need to read them in order to enjoy them. All in all, a funny enough series.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.