Review – The Stardust Kid
Cody has a new best friend. His friend is fun, dangerous and magic! Then, one day his friend disappears and evil threatens Cody’s real life. Together with his younger sister and former best friend, he journeys into the heart of a tree to help the mysterious Startdust Kid save the world!
Uh, at least I thinkthat’s what happens. While the artwork in Stardust Kid is gorgeous, the storyline is confusing and often overdone. J.M. Demattias breaks the cardinal comics rule of “show don’t tell”. The artwork is cluttered with boxes of prose, some even stating “Cody said”. That’s what the word bubble is for! The result is a long rambling story that doesn’t lead anywhere or give you any sense of who the characters are.
However, most kids may not mind, skipping over the actual text to pour over the pictures. The full color, bright and even *sparkly* illustrations are enchanting. Most of the story takes place in an underground world where plant life comes to life and the creatures who inhabit this land are lush. If you have a child who’s into fantasy, this may be a good pick.
Cover Girl – final review of 2008
The, ahem, cover of Cover Girl by Andrew Cosby kept this book on my shelf for a long time. I really did not need another big breasted lady with guns spouting catchphrases while kicking her legs high enough to get a glimpse of her underwear. But, it’s a nominated title, so I had no choice.
Guess what? It’s a story about a big breasted lady with guns spouting catchphrases while kicking her legs high enough to get a glimpse of her underwear. Yes, it is. But it’s a funny story. I mean, a really funny story. I actually laughed out loud. The dialogue is witty and the two main characters play well off each other. Alex Martin is a wanna-be actor who just happens to save the life of a mysterious woman. In Hollywood, there’s always a camera so his rescue quickly ends up on the news. The roles come in and he accepts a part in the latest action installment. The woman he saved gave him valuable information (though he’s too dumb to know it) and now some people want him dead. Enter bodyguard Rachel Dodd. Smart and deadly and good looking, she poses as his girlfriend while trying to keep him alive.
Of course, Rachel thanks Alex in the end for ’saving’ her, if not physically, emotionally. Which, barf. I mean, come on, can’t a woman be physically dominating without being emotionally crippled? But this small irritation didn’t dampen my love for Rachel or Alex any, I just assume she’s being sarcastic. Part spoof and part tribute, this action comic was a pleasant surprise.
