Psyche and Eros: The Lady and the Monster
Marie P. Croall and Ron Randall

Age Rating: 9+
Price: US$8.95
Genre: Mythology

Psyche lives in the comfort of her parents’ wealthy kingdom.  But when her beauty draws the jealous anger of the powerful goddess Aphrodite, Psyche finds herself in great danger.  She is taken away to an isolated mountain to marry a monster.  Will Psyche find love after all with her mysterious new husband?  Or will she fall prey to Aphrodite’s revenge?

One of the most under-appreciated genres in comic book literature is that of mythology, the retelling of ancient tales utilizing the melding of pictures and… Read More

Welcome to the August edition of Good Manga for Kids! The column has been on hiatus for a few months, as most of this summer’s new kid-friendly releases fell into one of two categories: ongoing series that have already been reviewed at Good Comics for Kids (e.g. The Big Adventures of Majoko, Happy Happy Clover, Leave it to PET!) or series with an obvious tie to merchandising (e.g. Pokemon). The fall looks more promising, offering a greater variety of titles for the under-twelve set, with Kat & Mouse and Yotsuba&! returning from hiatus, and new titles debuting… Read More

We all know the story–girl falls down a rabbit hole, discovers various potions to change her shape, makes strange new acquaintances, and finally escapes the despotic government. But what of the people left behind? What of the little people of Wonderland, the cards, the rabbits, the maids? This is the story of Mary Ann, the maid of the White Rabbit, and her adventures in Wonderland.

Wonderland
Written by Tommy Kovac; illustrated by Sonny Liew
Ages 13+
Disney Press, 2008, ISBN(hdbk): 978-142310451-3
160 pages, $19.99

Is Wonderland really Wonderland without Alice? In the hands of Tommy Kovac… Read More

Lots of comics for kids this week and in a good variety.  Boom! has trades of two of their popular comic titles The Muppet Show and Toy Story: Mysterious Stranger.  So if you missed the floppies, now’s your chance to get the trades.  Del Rey has their first collaboration with Cartoon Network out with Secret Saturdays, a cartoon that is actually really good.  Give this one a good long look.  Pocket Books has a reissue of Amelia Rules vol 2, and Tokyopop and Viz have a couple of manga.  Check out Animal Academy and Domo for some wild antics, and… Read More

Don’t be fooled by the sparkly pink covers: Fashion Kitty is a smart, funny series that recognizes girls’ interest in fashion without talking down to them or encouraging them to become pint-sized Anna Wintours. Though the titular character does, in fact, help classmates discover themselves through clothing, the series is as much about Fashion Kitty’s efforts to fit in with her peers and cope with her pesky little sister as it is about finding the right accessories or the purr-fect sweater.

Fashion Kitty
By Charise Mericle Harper
No rating (Recommended for ages 7-10)
Hyperion Books… Read More

During the Tang Dynasty in China (618-907), a jaded young wanderer, Chen Yuqing, seeks the quiet of a Buddhist retreat to try to forget about the wealthy young woman who threw him aside. Unfortunately it is almost time for a big ceremony and all of the young men of the town are excited because it means that they will be able to glimpse the beautiful young Pianpian. She is the daughter of a government official and her beauty is reknowned in the village. Soon Yuqing and Pianpian are in love, but… Read More

While at the American Library Association conference in Chicago, Snow Wildsmith and I had the opportunity to talk with VIZ Kids editor Traci Todd.  We asked her about the origins of the imprint, how licensing decisions are made, and where she sees the line going in the future.

Good Comics for Kids:  Would you ever consider expanding out your age ratings so that all-ages is for the youngest kids, then have a 7+ or a 10+?

Traci Todd:  Those are conversations we’re having.  I like the idea of Youth as a rating, because I think that all-ages is different in Kids from… Read More

While at the American Library Association conference in Chicago, Snow Wildsmith and I had the opportunity to talk with VIZ Kids editor Traci Todd.  We asked her about the origins of the imprint, how licensing decisions are made, and where she sees the line going in the future.

Good Comics for Kids: With the economy and the publishing market the way they are at the moment, why did VIZ decide that now was a good time to expand the children’s line?

Traci Todd:  It all happened before I came on board, but what I’ve been able to glean is that it was… Read More

Chris Mautner of Robot 6 has started an interesting series, Comics 101, in which he takes a look at popular, long-running franchises and explains what’s going on and where to start. The first lesson is on Love and Rockets.

Here’s a bit of  history for you: Jaime Weinman writes about Bob Bolling, the creator of Little Archie.

Alex Simmons discusses what he learned from Scooby-Doo at Graphic Novel Reporter.

Michael Patrick Sullivan talks to Mike Bullock and Michael Metcalf about their new all-ages work, Timothy’s Transgalactic Towel.

The New York Times discusses libraries’ varying approaches to books with potentially… Read More

With a premise reading like a mash up of Rosario+Vampire with My Gym Partner is a Monkey, Animal Academy: Hakobune Hakusho doesn’t look too promising.  But it proves to not just be a fun read, but also on it’s audience will enjoy.  Neko Fukuta has such poor grades that she can’t get into any high school, until she applys to Morimori High.  Just getting to the school turns out to be the start of an adventure for Neko, as she starts at a mysterious school with far from normal students and faculty.

Review: Animal Academy: Hakobune Hakusho Volume 1
By Moyamu… Read More