Description
Temporarily out of stock
Title: Road to Epoli, The: 1 Rickety Stitch & the Gelatinous Goo Trilogy
Author: PARKS JAMES
Illustrator: COSTA BEN (ILL)
Format: HARDCOVER
Publication date: 06/06/2017
Imprint: ALFRED A KNOPF
Price: $34.00
Publishing status: NOT YET PUBLISHED
The Hobbit meets Adventure Time as a singing skeleton searches for his origins in this full-color graphic novel series kickoff, perfect for fans of Nimona!
Meet Rickety Stitch . . . a walking, talking, singing skeleton minstrel. He’s the one skeleton in the dungeon who seems to have retained his soul, and he has no idea why. His only clue to his former identity is a song he hears snippets of in his dreams, an epic bard’s tale about the Road to Epoli and the land of Eem. His sidekick and sole friend is the gelatinous Goo, who Rickety alone can understand. Together they set out in search of Rickety’s past, with abundant humor and danger galore. -Dazzling, inventive and fun. Ben Costa and James Parks manage to both spoof and pay homage to the fantasy tradition, while creating characters we care about.
“A tour de force”.- –Jason Shiga, author of Meanwhile and Demon -Rickety Stitch is full of wonderful characters and pacing . . . and what surprises! Storytelling stripped down to the bare bones.- –Stan Sakai, creator of Usagi Yojimbo
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks (04/01/2017):
This clever graphic novel introduces teen readers to a memorable pair of protagonists-Rickety Stitch, the irrepressible skeleton bard with little memory of who he actually used to be, and his best friend and constant companion, a cube of blue jello-type substance known as Goo. After Rickety gets booted from his job for essentially being a terrible skeleton (most are soulless collections of bones that work tirelessly, while Rickety prefers napping, chatting, and trying to remember the lyrics to a song that plays out on the edges of his memory), the two pals get wrapped up in a dangerous quest involving imps, gnomes, unicorns, a lich, and the ever-persistent question of who Rickety used to be and where his destiny lies. For a gelatinous cube, Goo sure shows an impressive amount of range, though only Rickety himself can understand his actual communication. The illustrations are dark and foreboding, highlighting the extensive array of dangers that the two find themselves in, while retaining plenty of the sardonic, mature humor of the text. There is lots of intertextual cleverness going on that results in this book being both an homage to and spoof of the traditional fantasy hero’s quest, both in the illustrations and in the narration. Fantasy buffs will appreciate the inside humor, while those who know less about the genre won’t mind what they’re missing. A sequel is certainly set up within the text, and it’s one that will be eagerly anticipated. AS
Kirkus Reviews (04/01/2017):
A minstrel skeleton and his wobbly companion embark upon an epic quest to learn their origins in this gloriously ribald graphic tale. Unlike the other, dronelike skeletons, who never tire and soundlessly work, Rickety Stitch has both a soul and a song in his heart. Cast out from his dungeon into a dark and mysterious wood for his ineffectiveness and nonconformity, he and his faithful companion–a silent, shopping-bag-shaped creature named Gelatinous Goo–soon find themselves tricked by a snarky little imp. Goo is imprisoned by a two-headed giant who demands that the imp and Rickety bring him a pure-hearted gnome to eat. The plan goes awry, and hilarity ensues (along with the more-than-occasional cheerfully caustic joke). Rickety has no memories of his human life, and in addition to rescuing his friend is determined to track down something from his past. Costa and Parks’ script is imaginative and laugh-out-loud funny, unafraid to crack a well-timed, verging-on-naughty joke. Costa’s art is unfalteringly, vibrantly buoyant, with many sight gags that effortlessly turn the profane into something adorably laughable. A cliffhanger ending leaves readers poised for the sequel–they will be clamoring. For those who loved Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona (2015) and have struggled to find something similar, this may scratch that itch. Don’t be fooled by the cheery illustrations; this is irreverent, bawdy, and lots of fun. (Graphic fantasy. 13-adult) COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Publishers Weekly (04/17/2017):
Rickety Stitch is a skeleton bard who can’t keep a job; his dreams hint at who he was in a previous life, but he remembers little upon awakening. After getting fired from a dungeon, Stitch sets out for answers in Epoli, a place that surfaces in his dreams. His blob of a sidekick, Gelatinous Goo, accompanies him, and their adventures throw them into contact with imps, gnomes, trolls, and other creatures; some befriend and help him, while others have less benevolent plans in mind. The kaleidoscope of characters is complemented by the full-color artwork, which establishes a rich fantasy landscape and contrast starkly with the barren b&w eeriness of Stitch’s dreams. Amid many slapstick moments, gross-out gags, and edgy jokes–“You’re lucky you didn’t rip my blouse,” wails the skeleton after getting stabbed during a bar fight, “this thing’s vintage!”–Parks and Costa impressively evolve their tale into a compelling epic quest with deeper themes than the initial chapters hint. This trilogy opener is ideal for Nimona fans looking to see tried-and-true fantasy tropes get hilariously upended. Ages 12-up. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (June)
Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Series: Rickety Stitch & the Gelatinous Goo Tilogy
ISBN: 9780399556135
Weight: 567g