Sometimes it would be fair to say that I?ve grown up. I mean even the childish habits I enjoy so, such as video games and comic books, have very real adult themes such as violence, sex and drugs. This wouldn?t be so bad, except all comic books I read when I was a kid I would probably deem to violent or sexy to show to my daughter, should I ever get one. This puts me in a quandary. How do I introduce my non existent daughter to one of the greatest forms of literature I have ever experienced? I mean there?s the newspaper, but the only decent thing they print in there these days is Calvin and Hobbes, and that?s come to an end. Luckily, my bacon is saved by a girl in fourth grade named Amelia McBride and her author named Jimmy Gownley who showed me that kid?s comics are not only alive and well, but much better than they were in the days of old
?Amelia Rules!? explores the life of a girl in the fourth grade living with her divorced mother and her former rock star aunt. All the standards are here, her love interest/best friend Reggie, who has somewhat of a superhero fixation, her rival/best friend Rhonda who also loves Reggie, and the enigmatic Pyjama Man, who never speaks. Together, with supporting characters like Mary ?Ultra? Violet they form a legion of super heroes, G.A.S.P, who do battle with the evil Ninjas (a rival gang from across town) in the same way you had enemies who were your friends back in school.
So the basic premise is that this girl deals with things that a girl growing up in the 00?s would have to deal with. Through moving house, making friends and going to school. The comic is honest, cute and it has a real quality about it, making it believable and thoroughly enjoyable to read. The characters are deep (especially considering their age) and the stories, while on the surface simple, are very well written and combine smart dialogue with a very consistant and good looking art style to rival Doonesbury.
The great thing about this comic is that it?s not sticking to the formula Peanuts invented, and because of that it?s a much better comic. There is a lot of artistic freedom that Gownley has in his books, and he is very rarely restricted by panels. He often ?bleeds? his art between pages and uses various speech bubble shapes to imply emotions and tone, and the art often varies between situations, from an old 40?s instructional video to pastel illustrations. Whereas Charlie Brown was the same whiney kid with the same insecurities for forty years, Amelia is growing up at a rate of knots. I have no idea if Jimmy sees an end for this comic, but he?s certainly doesn?t want his little girl staying as an 11 year old forever. I have to say I applaude that decision and it?s great watching this little girl grow up.
Ok, so yes, it?s kiddy, but that?s is charm. I mean it?s still very funny for those of you with childish dispositions and it?s nice to relive childish memories about kissing games and superhero adventures. It?s also nice to see that tweens have someone not dressed like a whore to look up to. I highly recommend checking it out. It?s bringing back comics.
?Amelia Rules!? explores the life of a girl in the fourth grade living with her divorced mother and her former rock star aunt. All the standards are here, her love interest/best friend Reggie, who has somewhat of a superhero fixation, her rival/best friend Rhonda who also loves Reggie, and the enigmatic Pyjama Man, who never speaks. Together, with supporting characters like Mary ?Ultra? Violet they form a legion of super heroes, G.A.S.P, who do battle with the evil Ninjas (a rival gang from across town) in the same way you had enemies who were your friends back in school.
So the basic premise is that this girl deals with things that a girl growing up in the 00?s would have to deal with. Through moving house, making friends and going to school. The comic is honest, cute and it has a real quality about it, making it believable and thoroughly enjoyable to read. The characters are deep (especially considering their age) and the stories, while on the surface simple, are very well written and combine smart dialogue with a very consistant and good looking art style to rival Doonesbury.
The great thing about this comic is that it?s not sticking to the formula Peanuts invented, and because of that it?s a much better comic. There is a lot of artistic freedom that Gownley has in his books, and he is very rarely restricted by panels. He often ?bleeds? his art between pages and uses various speech bubble shapes to imply emotions and tone, and the art often varies between situations, from an old 40?s instructional video to pastel illustrations. Whereas Charlie Brown was the same whiney kid with the same insecurities for forty years, Amelia is growing up at a rate of knots. I have no idea if Jimmy sees an end for this comic, but he?s certainly doesn?t want his little girl staying as an 11 year old forever. I have to say I applaude that decision and it?s great watching this little girl grow up.
Ok, so yes, it?s kiddy, but that?s is charm. I mean it?s still very funny for those of you with childish dispositions and it?s nice to relive childish memories about kissing games and superhero adventures. It?s also nice to see that tweens have someone not dressed like a whore to look up to. I highly recommend checking it out. It?s bringing back comics.