Any book that uses Rashamon for inspiration can’t be all bad but this one comes really close. This is yet another re-imagined superhero book using an anime style and frankly it’s getting tiring. So much so, that after reading it, I’m not the least bit interested in seeing the animated series that it is based on. The story, such as it is, revolves around all the members of the team recalling how Clark Kent/Superman first joined them. Everyone’s recollection is different and not one of them is the least bit original or interesting. Since there are pending legal problems with the creator of Superboy, the series and comic have to refer to him as Superman. This is a bit distracting as the character is depicted as being somewhere in the vicinity of junior high school age. This is a flat, uninspired book with generic anime art and a completely lackluster story. Just leave it on the shelf. Use the money to get some gum. The act of chewing will be more entertaining. Not Recommended.

Ok. Plain and simple. Jimmy Gownley’s Amelia Rules is not only one of the finest children’s comics of all time. Not only is it one of the finest comics of all time. It is one of the best examples of children’s literature I have ever read. Gownley joins the ranks of Charles Schultz, Hank Ketcham, Hayao Miyazaki and J.K. Rowling in the ability to tap into the inner child that can be related to by any generation. Amelia is a rare thing in comics today. The kids in the book may be precocious but in a very realistic way. The stories are funny and touching without ever overdoing both qualities. The book centers on Amelia, a believable girl whose determination is inspiring. You will immediately recognize your own childhood in hers. Everything from the rigors of a game of freeze tag to the heartbreak and pain of parental divorce is explored here. These characters will take up permanent residence in your heart and you’ll find yourself immediately addicted. Gownley’s art talent is considerable. The art actually advances the story and enhances the mood. That’s enough yapping from me. Just buy this book. Open it and let it work its magic on you. Funny, smart, poignant and true: Amelia Rules is not just highly recommended but absolutely essential.

Paperutz Publishing is aptly named. First they took Zorro, a legendary fictitious hero and ruined it with some of the most abysmal art I’ve ever seen. Then came The Hardy Boys. A book that I recently reviewed and which was so miserable it almost became the last kid’s book I ever reviewed. Now comes the perennial companion piece to Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew. And while I will say that it is infinitely better than the Hardy brothers, it is still faint praise. Based on Carolyn Keene’s long running and I assume eventually ghost written series of novels, the comic version seems to have more in common with Scooby Doo than with the teen mystery books from which it springs. A mystery is set up and while investigating it, Nancy and friends encounter a ghost that turns out to be….wait for it….not a ghost at all, but someone trying to prevent the mystery from being unraveled. The mystery here involves the long lost plans for a combustion engine that gets 200 miles per gallon. While this might be an enticing concept for the SUV crowd, I can’t imagine the target audience of young girls getting worked up over it. Still, there’s nothing here to offend. The artwork done in a pseudo-anime style is pleasant enough and the writing never insults. So if your preteen daughter can stop text messaging her friends long enough to crack a page or two of this book, she won’t have a bad time. Somewhat recommended.