Description
Temporarily out of stock
Title: Mystery Boxes, The: 1 Explorer
Author: KIBUISHI KAZU
Format: PAPERBACK
Publication date: 01/04/2012
Imprint: ABRAMS
Price: $18.00
Publishing status: Active
Explorer is an exciting anthology of short graphic works by established artists and innovative newcomers in the comic and animation fields, who have each created a unique story on a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels, or mayhem, inside. Collected and edited by Kazu Kibuishi these well-written, beautifully illustrated stories reflect a range of styles from the humerous to the fantastic. Explorer will appeal to young adult readers already in touch with the comics world and warmly invite in the more reluctant readers of this age group.
Grades 4-8 Award-winning comics creator and editor of the celebrated Flight anthologies, Kibuishi offers yet another great anthology geared toward middle-school readers. This collection brings together seven minicomics written and drawn by comics luminaries such as Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, and Kibuishi himself; Flight contributors Jason Caffoe, Rad Sechrist, Stuart Livingston, and Johane Matte; and comics newcomer Emily Carroll. Each fantastic and fantastical story centers around the theme of boxes and the mysteries that lie within or around them. Always clever and never boring, these diverse stories run the gamut from creepy to sarcastic to witty to cute to Zen to wacky to thoughtful. While the pieces feature different artists and styles, each one is complete and so well composed that the transitions from one to another do not seem jarring or out of place. A great introductory title for young or struggling middle-school readers starting to explore the world of graphic novels.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)
Voice of Youth Advocates (04/01/2012):
For this comics collection edited by the creator of the popular Amulet graphic novel series, artists and authors have taken the same story prompt of “mystery boxes” and created seven graphic-novel short stories, each very different in style and tone. Subjects range from a creepy wax doll found in a box (“Under the Floorboards” by Emily Carroll) to the need for environmental activism (“The Escape Option” by Kazu Kibuishi). Four of the stories are humorous (“Spring Cleaning” by Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier, “The Keeper’s Treasure” by Jason Caffoe, “The Butter Thief” by Rad Sechrist, and “Whatzit” by Johane Matte with Saymone Phanekham), while “The Soldier’s Daughter” by Stuart Livingston with Stephanie Ramirez conveys a serious pacifist message.
The collection is aimed at readers ages nine to twelve, but if teens pick it up, they will enjoy the irony of the stories and appreciate the serious themes even more than younger readers.—Laurie Cavanaugh.4Q 3P M J Graphic Format
Horn Book Magazine (05/01/2012):
Kibuishi is known for Amulet, his epic fantasy comic series, but he and his webcomics and animation peers first made a splash in the comics world with their Flight anthologies. More cohesive in theme and targeted toward younger readers, this new installment in the Explorer comics series shares the artistry, vivid atmosphere, and accomplishment in the telling short-form stories that make the Flight series so successful. In this anthology of seven stories, each creator takes the same idea — mysterious boxes — and runs with it. Spooky cautionary stories, slapstick humor, and enticing tales of enchantment fill these pages. All of the contributors have honed their artistic and narrative craft in both print and animation; the rich and varied styles show off the breadth of comic art, from the slickest Pixar-style romp to noble legends built from bright colors and shapes. Each story fits the theme but spins its own twist on the tale: part of the fun is anticipating how each will integrate the titular box. In a few brief pages, the creators use reader expectations and convention to signal plot and genre but then delight in turning things upside-down. By introducing a range of new comics creators to young readers, this standout anthology will leave its audience with a fresh appetite for more from both the series and the individual contributors. robin brenner(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks (06/01/2012):
Each of the seven graphic short stories (from a total of eight authors) in this collection centers on the mysterious contents of a box. One box contains a sinister wax doll, another attracts the attention of several wizards, two contain mischievous entities, one provides a link to a beloved father who has been killed in battle, one is an alien spaceship, and one, of course, is full of treasure. Each poses a problem for the characters who find it, and those problems range from the creepy to the zany to the ethically and socially conscious in their eventual solutions. Full-color artwork introduces readers to a range of graphic styles: the spooky story of the wax doll who starts to take over the life of the girl who found her is characterized by dark, monochromatic colors and stark interiors, whereas the more zany plot of an alien in over his head on an assignment is energized by bright, complementary colors, chaotic compositions, and exaggerated body eccentricities. Readers new to graphic narrative will find this collection inspirational for their own creative forays, and it carries rich curricular possibilities for teaching the form as well; meanwhile, veteran comics readers, who may recognize contributor names such as Raina Telgemeier and Kibuishi himself, will appreciate the range of styles and entertaining narratives made possible by the thematic connection of a mysterious box. KC
Seven clever stories answer one simple question: what’s in the box?
Funny, fantastic, spooky, and suspenseful, each of these unique and beautifully illustrated short graphic works revolves around a central theme: a mysterious box and the marvels–or mayhem–inside. Artists include middle school favorites Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier (\”Smile\”), and Dave Roman (\”Astronaut Academy\”), as well as Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Rad Sechrist (all contributors to the groundbreaking comics anthology series \”Flight\”), and upcoming artist Emily Carroll.
Praise for \”Explorer: Mystery Boxes\”STARRED REVIEW\”An outstanding out-of-the box anthology from renowned comics veteran Kibuishi. With eye-popping full-color art and palettes ranging from candy-colored to ethereal earth tones, this is both a visual feast for the eyes and a healthy helping of thought for the soul. Superb.\”-\”Kirkus Reviews, \”starred review STARRED REVIEW\”Coherent for all its variety, there will be something here for most readers.\”-\”School Library Journal,\” starred review
Series: Explorer
ISBN: 9781419700095
Pages: 128