Explorer: The Mystery Boxes by Kazu Kibuishi - Revision history

Sue at 13:23, 21 September 2020

2020-09-21T13:23:49Z

Sue at 12:29, 20 March 2018

2018-03-20T12:29:41Z

Sue at 14:03, 23 December 2014

2014-12-23T14:03:35Z

Sue at 16:50, 19 January 2012

2012-01-19T16:50:09Z

Sue: Created page with '{{infobox |title=Explorer: The Mystery Boxes |author=Kazu Kibuishi |reviewer=John Lloyd |genre=Confident Readers |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9781419700095 |paperback=141…'

2011-11-28T15:34:23Z

Created page with '{{infobox |title=Explorer: The Mystery Boxes |author=Kazu Kibuishi |reviewer=John Lloyd |genre=Confident Readers |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9781419700095 |paperback=141…'

New review

{{infobox
|title=Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
|author=Kazu Kibuishi
|reviewer=John Lloyd
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781419700095
|paperback=141970009X
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=128
|publisher=Amulet Books
|date=March 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>141970009X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>141970009X</amazonus>
|website=
|video=
|summary=A wealth of diverse short graphic comic stories for the pre-teens.
}}
Reading books like this I wish there were various artist graphic novel themed compilations with a similar level of diversity and sustained quality. Until that time, all I can do is return to these pages, and wait for the artists - none of which I've ever heard of before - perhaps to produce more mature material. This volume has the simplest of premise - take seven creators, tell them to write a story around a box and make it fantastical, and sit back and enjoy.

The editor himself closes the show, and his piece is perhaps the best, for it is quite deep given its bluntness, and certainly can be very pretty. It's matched, I guess, for the profound morality, by Stuart Livingston's piece, and in aesthetics by Jason Caffoe, where his box is a treasure chest that gets opened - perhaps a little unfortunately...

Elsewhere Emily Carroll is flagged up as a newbie, and her opening piece shows she will have far to go. Her box contains a tiny little friendly golem character - who gets a bit less tiny, and a lot less friendly. Other artists show themselves less able to remove themselves from their day jobs on trashy kids' TV animation, and have more knockabout tales. I thought the same of Rad Sechrist's piece, but his unique design work shows up a good Japanese-inspired creation, with a lovely chase mid-story that is pure Tom and Jerry.

So while some pieces are definitely for the younger reader, my appreciation of this book is easily shareable given my age. You can't go wrong with seven stories at the eighteen-page mark, given the diversity and interest the simple remit allows for. If there are more in this series, I might just give up hope of adult comix matching them.

More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series. All the same, it is well worth dipping into.

{{amazontext|amazon=141970009X}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8812674}}

{{commenthead}}

[[Category:Graphic Novels]]
[[Category:Teens]]

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
-More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series.  All the same, it is well worth dipping into.
+More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series.  All the same, it is well worth dipping into.  We can recommend another [[The Secret of the Wooden Chest (Roman Magic) by Catherine Rosevear|chest]] for you to look into!
 {{amazontext|amazon=141970009X}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 19 January 2012
Line 28:		Line 28:

	So while some pieces are definitely for the younger reader, my appreciation of this book is easily shareable given my age. You can't go wrong with seven stories at the eighteen-page mark, given the diversity and interest the simple remit allows for. If there are more in this series, I might just give up hope of adult comix matching them.		So while some pieces are definitely for the younger reader, my appreciation of this book is easily shareable given my age. You can't go wrong with seven stories at the eighteen-page mark, given the diversity and interest the simple remit allows for. If there are more in this series, I might just give up hope of adult comix matching them.
		+
		+	I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

	More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series. All the same, it is well worth dipping into.		More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series. All the same, it is well worth dipping into.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
 |author=Kazu Kibuishi
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |publisher=Amulet Books
 |date=March 2012
 |summary=A wealth of diverse short graphic comic stories for the pre-teens.
 }}
 Reading books like this I wish there were various artist graphic novel themed compilations with a similar level of diversity and sustained quality.  Until that time, all I can do is return to these pages, and wait for the artists - none of which I've ever heard of before - perhaps to produce more mature material.  This volume has the simplest of premise - take seven creators, tell them to write a story around a box and make it fantastical, and sit back and enjoy.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |borrow=Yes
 |isbn=9781419700095
 |pages=128
 |publisher=Amulet Books
@@ Line 33: / Line 29: @@
 More variety can be had in a compilation such as [[Mouse Guard: Legends of The Guard by David Petersen]], it is true, but that is a spin-off from an established series.  All the same, it is well worth dipping into.
-{{amazontext|amazon=141970009X}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8812674}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=141970009X}}
 {{commenthead}}