The Adventures of a Comic Con Girl Comic

Ah, the Comic Con Girl. What an enigmatic creature.

She's revered and perhaps feared in a way few will ever understand. Of course, the Comic Con Girls are as diverse as their Comic Con Brethren. There's the ultra-fan who could out-geek the biggest boy nerd. There's the loyal spouse/girlfriend who attends out of mere obligation. There's the hostile gamer-girl who just wants to game and doesn't want to be looked as a woman at all. The variety is endless.

So Antarctic's comic examining the experiences of females at comic book conventions intrigues me. What is it like to turn the heads of a thousand geeks just simply by showing up in a rockin' Power Girl costume? How does one act when one realizes that they possess such power? What motivations do these mythical creatures have?

This comic book limited series of three issues promises to be both humorous and insightful and an industry almost exclusively devoted to males examines the fairer gender's experiences at comic book conventions.

Philosophy: A Discovery in Comics Graphic Novel

A Thinking Man's Graphic Novel

What is thinking? How does our thinking set up apart from other animals?

What is reality? Is there one reality or many subjective realities?

What is truth? Can truth actually be determined?

Do we have a free will or is our life predetermined?

These questions and more are examined in Philosophy: A Discovery in Comics by Margreet de Heer. She examines and digests western philosophers including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Erasmus, Descartes, Spinoza, and Nietzsche.

So don't expect Spider-Man to ponder how to defeat the unstoppable Juggernaut. This graphic novel tackles the REALLY tough questions about life, the universe, and our role in it.

First Impression: Superbia #1

Superbia #1

Superbia is a new comic that explores an interesting concept. What do the spouses of superheroes do all day long while their husbands are out saving the world?


I find the topic to be particularly relevant because DC and Marvel have no idea what to do with a married superhero. Spider-Man was notoriously un-never-married in the One More Day storyline. Superman's marriage got the continuity axe with 52. To me, it speaks very poorly of the creative talent at these companies that they simply can't figure out how to write a married superhero.

Perhaps they should let Grace Randolph write for them.

In this series, there are Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman archetypes, all of which are married. But what would it be like to be Superman's spouse REALLY? He's a man that's so powerful he could have literally anything he wanted. And how would you feel if your husband was running around town with a hot young female sidekick?

Check out Supurbia if for no other reason than to get an dynamic analysis of the lives of superheroes. And I'm betting it's a pretty darn good story as well.

31 Days of Zombie Infestation: Day 31 - The Last Zombie

The Last Zombie

I thought it would only be fitting if we extinguished the Zombie Infestation with the aptly named comic book, "The Last Zombie."

The comic book explores an interesting concept. Often times in zombie literature the focus is on the breakout event. When the zombies hit, what happens? 28 Days Later took a little spin on that and accelerated the clock by 28 days to where the zombies had pretty much overrun everything. The Last Zombie takes the concept one step further in exploring a world where a zombie outbreak occurred and the was repelled. The disease is still out there, waiting to explode again, but it did its damage to the world in the meantime, leaving society in complete disorder.

All of that is just backdrop and backstory for a personal story of overcoming obstacles to survive and perhaps make some human connections as well.

Zombie fans should definitely check this one out.

31 Days of Zombie Infestation: Day 11 - Marvel Zombies

Marvel Zombies

For a long time, Marvel fans were called "Marvel Zombies" by people who didn't like Marvel. Marvel fans were just so dedicated and outsiders just didn't see the attraction.


Much to Marvel's credit, it took this title and pinned it to it's chest like a prized ribbon. Taking the name literally, they launched an entire new universe that featured zombie versions of all of their most popular characters. The results were frightening. Normal zombies can destroy an entire world... but what about zombies with superpowers? They literally can eat all flesh in an entire universe!

The first few Marvel Zombies series featured classic covers reimagined with Zombies. The idea seemed to be played out to its logical conclusion when literally all life in the zombie Marvel Universe was extinguished. But, as we know, zombies will do anything to satiate the hunger. So, the... er... "heroes" starting jumping to other parallel universes. Things got really interesting when Marvel Zombies showed up in the Marvel Universe 616!

Marvel Zombies is the #2 best thing to happen to zombies in the last ten years. #1 is The Walking Dead, of course. But Marvel Zombies boldly went where no other universe has dared to go and literally turned all of its major characters into zombies, thus breaking new ground for zombie fans everywhere.

"Adventures of a Comic Book Artist" - Theater Report

The Planet X Comics table

The Comic Store West table

I attended the play Adventures of a Comic Book Artist yesterday at the York Little Theater. It is a kid friendly show so I decided to take my five year old son (he's the one dressed up as Spidey, of course!) It was my first time at the theater so I didn't know what you expect. I was quite impressed with the carnival-like atmosphere they created!

Inter-Company crossover

Spidey teaches Batman
how to webswing.

First, when you walked in the door you were greeted in a mini "comic book convention." Two local comic book shops had tables set up in the lobby. Both stores were giving away Free Comic Book Day comics and had a modest amount of merchandise to sell. Both stores had wisely selected only kid-friendly comics for display since the crowd was going to be full of kids. Both stores also had people dressed up in character for the kids. Comic Store West had the version of Batman from the Dark Knight movies and a great homemade Thor costume. Planet X had classic Batman, Green Arrow, and Indiana Jones, each with a publicity stills that they were signing. Also in the lobby they were serving refreshments and, of course, selling tickets.

Thor takes a fighting pose

York Little Theater is also celebrating its 80th anniversary and hosting a number of special events. They were featuring a decade at a time and were showcasing the 80's with a featured display.

Green Arrow had the best costume

During intermission there was a costume contest. My son dressed up as Spider-Man. There was also a Peter Parker, Supergirl, Captain America, Mr. Noface, and a weird skeletal alien thing. The contest was decided by the cheers from the crow with Mr. Noface and Captain America taking the prizes.

After the show we got to take a tour of all the backstage areas including rigging, rear projection, prop creation, the soundroom, and the lighting areas. Very nice!

The play itself was very cute. You could tell that it was written by a lifelong comic book fan because of the witty banter in it. Characters throughout the play make scores of references to both popular and obscure comic book characters and even slip into "geek-speak" to discuss these characters. For example, one character mentions Venom's weakness to fire and sonics while another analyzes Mr. Fantastic's motivation of guilty feelings at having mutated his friends.

Indy helps Green Arrow
make an adjustment

The costume contest at intermission

The main character is Stanley (This alone tells me the writer is a superfan... get it - Stan-Lee!), an aspiring comic book artist. He accidentally gets a hold of a magical pen that makes anything drawn with it come to life. Meanwhile, the staff of the comic book company uses the pens to create a supervillain that can freeze time... Dr. Shock Clock! To respond, Stanley creates the Fabulous Four - Starguy (with his Charisma Ray), Triple Time (superfast), Blossom (magical flowers for various effects) and Wombat Woman (burrow through anything!). This band of misfits fights Dr. Shock Clock unsuccessfully and Stanley himself has to become Eraser Man to fight Dr. Shock Clock!

The play and the atmosphere were highly enjoyable. If you're in the York, PA area I would suggest checking it out. I think it is only running for another week so get your tickets fast!

War of the Independents Mega Crossover!!!!!

War of the Independents... NOT a "Find Flava Flav" book

Why should Marvel and DC get all of the *cough* "great" crossovers? Well, now, thanks to Dave Ryan and Red Anvil Comics, they won't!

War of the Independents (Get it - it's named after America's War of IndependANCE...) has a cast of literally hundreds of independent characters. Virtually any character not published by the biggest companies (which are, perhaps, a little bit more protective of their intellectual property rights) is in this thing!

But that doesn't mean that it's full of no name characters you've never heard of. I'm sure most comic book fans would recognize the likes of Bone, The Maxx, Madman!, Zen, Cerebus, Scud the Disposable Assassin (a personal favorite!), Milk and Cheese, Shi, Too Much Coffee Man, Gumby, Megaton Man, Usagi Yojimbo, Dawn, Buzzboy, The Tick, The Pro, The Flaming Carrot, and, yes, that IS Flava Flav... I finally found him!

I'm sure this six issue limited series will be of great interest to true completionists for popular characters such as The Tick, Bone, or Scud. I found a personal favorite that has a special place in my heart - Drunken Monkey (he's to the right of the giant robot thing). I'll have to tell you about Drunken Monkey sometime - but know that he's worth supporting with your dollars!

It appears that the first three issues have already been released. You can get an incomplete roster of who appears in the war here.

Is there any chance this book actually has something to say and turns out to be good? No, probably not. But the concept is so massively huge I'm surprised it has gotten off the ground at all. I mean, we're talking about a bunch of characters from REALLY different comics. If somebody had told me that Bone would cross over with Milk and Cheese I wouldn't have believed them. Let alone crossing over with a few hundred other comics at the same time! Gaaahhh!

Masters of the Universe: The Origin of Skeletor

You know, Eternia, the land that is the setting for He-Man from the Masters of Universe, doesn't strike me as having much of a continuity. I mean, it's name - Eternia - strongly indicates to me that this is a timeless place. He-Man and Skeletor are locked in an endless battle of good vs evil.

But that's apparently changing, thanks to DC's new one-shot, Masters of the Universe: The Origin of Skeletor #1. How did Skeletor become an evil tyrant and a powerful magician? I'm guessing we'll get our answers finally in this issue!

By the way, what a awesome cover!

Coraline Graphic Novel

So what do you do when a famous comic book writer releases a novel? Well, you turn it into a graphic novel of course!

And that's exactly what they've done with Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Have you seen the movie? Yes, it was extremely weird but I've read the book and I can say that the book is even creepier. I didn't care for the movie that much but the book is pretty good.

As for the idea of turning into a graphic novel, sure, why not. But don't you think that if Gaiman had intended for it to be a graphic novel he would have written it that way in the first place?

And there are a ton of novels that get turned into graphic novels... but are there any graphic novels that get translated into novels? Hmmm... I can't think of any....

*Groan* Chaos! Returns? Seriously?

Evil Ernie #1

Thanks a lot, Valiant Comics. You've inspired Dynamic Entertainment and Dynamite to bring back Chaos! Comics! Yeah, you remember that company that published such *gag* high-quality works like Evil Ernie and Lady Death? Yeah, that's the one.

I'm sure there are some folks somewhere who applaud this return but I can't imagine who is actually looking forward to it. Haven't these characters been given their 15 minutes of fame? Didn't they fail miserably? Why bring them back (except to make a quick buck)? Does anybody genuinely expect these comics to be GOOD?

To me, companies such as Valiant and Chaos! were responsible for fueling the "Comic Book Bubble" of the 90's. They mass-produced garbage comics that bloated that wore out the fans, cluttered shelves, and ultimately crashed the industry, taking quite a few comic book shops with them.

Do we need to have these failed companies back, especially since so many NEW companies and concepts have come along that are so fantastic?

Obviously, I would resolutely say, "No!" especially since it doesn't seem like Chaos! is going to be operating under any different rules. Evil Ernie ships with four covers! Yay! *gag*

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2 Reaction

Ozymandias #2

The cover to the tenth Before Watchmen comic, Ozymandias #2, really bothers me. It's not the image itself. It's the fact that this is an image that grabs your attention and then disappoints you because it has NO connection to the actual story inside. Who is this woman? What does the cord around Adrian's neck symbolize? We don't even have a  hint to an answer. Great image but it would have been a better cover for Nite Owl #2.

Adrian picks up his quest to avenge his lover's drug-induced death. The two-page spread that shows Adrian taking out the thugs quick as lightning is absolutely great. All of the objects and figures are silhouettes against a background the same yellow as the cover. Jae Lee slips back to his old standby, the silhouette, in this issue far too often and it quickly gets old.

Ozymandias gets to deliver the famous lines from the poem that inspired his name in this comic which is a great moment. What a fantastically fitting scene, especially because we all know where the character ends up.

I was thrilled with the development the issue takes at the end. Hooded Justice is a mystery among mystery men and to have both Ozymandias and the Comedian (either together or as adversaries) trying to learn what became of him is almost too good to wait for.

In the backup story, The Curse of the Crimson Corsair, I'm a little bit sick of every installment beginning or ending with the main character unconscious. In this case, both are true. The "cliffhanger" endings where the main character is in mortal peril wear thin after awhile as well. Are they really going to kill him in the tenth installment of a series of 200+ pages? No, I sincerely doubt it.

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2 Reaction

Nite Owl #2

With Nite Owl #2, Nite Owl takes a turn for the... mature.

The issue is narrated by Nite Owl but gives a good deal of attention to Rorschach. In pursuing a couple of criminals, Nite Owl and Rorschach encounter a dominatrix. Nite Owl is intrigued while Rorschach is repulsed to the point of violence. As a result, their partnership is tested.

The theme of the issue is past hurts. The encounter causes Rorschach to revisit seeing his mother with a man when he was a child. Meanwhile, a murdered hooker causes Nite Owl to remember his father beating his mother. He remembers getting beat up by bullies. His mother counsels him to find something to place, "between yourself and the dragon." Something to shield him from harm - a "happy place" as it were. Hence, Dan's obsession with the Nite Owl is born. It's also revealed that Dan's mother wanted to abort him when she became pregnant.

"It doesn't matter," is repeated throughout the issue. But it does, to the people involved. Nite Owl goes against the advice of his mentor and, at the end of the issue, revisits the dominatrix.

Once again, J. Michael Straczynski does what he does best - takes the characters apart like a watch and finds out what makes them tick. A great issue and it doesn't even have a super fight! (SHOCK!)

In the backup story takes one tiny, lurching step forward with the Crimson Corsair finally giving the curse that is referenced in the title. He takes the main character's (I have no idea what his name is - if it was ever mentioned it has been issues since it has been repeated) soul and throws him overboard to begin his quest to find the three items he needs to secure his freedom.

Before Watchmen: Comedian #2

Comedian #2

The eighth book in Before Watchmen, The Comedian #2 starts the same way as #1 - with a Kennedy.

Since John F. Kennedy was assassinated at the end of the first story, this time the story starts with Bobby Kennedy and Eddie watching Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston. I've noticed that the Before Watchmen books seem to really go out of their way to include famous people.

I'm not sure what it was, but the dialogue just doesn't flow is some places in this issue. The trick of carrying dialogue over from one page to end in the first panel of the next is overused. Perhaps I'm missed a few cultural references as well because at times I found it hard to tell what the characters were talking about.

The big event of the issue is that the Comedian goes to Vietnam. Now THIS is going to be good. When he first arrives, the war isn't yet a war - it's a conflict. The issue ends with President Johnson's declaration of war. Really, the war itself seems to be the primary character of the story, not the Comedian. We're treated to the inside story of how the Vietnam conflict was funded by drug money. Overall, the issue seemed to lack focus.

Still, we got to see the Comedian's idea of a "joke." Except, I think he was the only one laughing.

I'm REALLY looking forward to the next issue, however. The Comedian, unleashed during the Vietnam War? How glorious is it going to be???!!!???

The Crimson Corsair backup FINALLY sets up the actual plot of the story. The main character must get three items to earn his freedom from the Flying Dutchman. They're nonsensical or mysterious items but if he ever wants his freedom he must attain them. This meandering story, told an ounce at a time, finally has a direction. Hopefully it will seem more focused going forward.

Heavy Metal - Movie Reaction

I had absolutely NO idea what I was getting myself into with the Heavy Metal movie. The only things I knew going in were that it was a comic book related project and that it featured the music of a whole sack full of amazing musical talents.

Let's just say I was VERY surprised by what the movie actually is. I was expecting something akin to Across the Universe - a story that relies very heavily upon the music in it. And, sure, the film has a fantastic soundtrack. But the music is ancillary to the action, used more as a score than narration.

I didn't even know this was an animated film, let alone an animated film with the structure it has. The film is a series of very loosely related short stories, each one produced in by a different artistic team. So each short story has a completely different visual texture to it.

Having never read the actual Heavy Metal magazine, I was shocked by the maturity of the content as well. Let's just say that even though this is an animated film it's a far cry from a kiddie picture!

The first real story, featuring Harry Cannon, was perhaps my favorite. It nailed that noir feeling but in a futuristic setting.

I also really enjoyed the B-17 story and the Den story but some of the rest of them I thought kind of went nowhere.

The stories are all tied together by the Loc-Nar terrorizing a girl and telling her that she has a special power as it shows her stories of its power. The Loc-Nar is the one constant in all of the stories, although in some of them it is almost inconsequential (such as the Captain Sternn story) and in others it plays a central roll (such as the Harry Cannon story).

Overall, the film was a very pleasant surprise. I look forward to Heavy Metal 2000 but I'm likewise completely ignorant of that film so don't ruin it for me!

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #2 Reaction

Silk Spectre #2

I was completely blown away by Amanda Conner in Silk Spectre #1 so I breathlessly anticipated the second  issue (the seventh Before Watchmen book).

Of course, Ms. Connor didn't disappoint me! Her art, as always, is simply fantastic. Once again, on the cover her uniform's black space is used as a looking-glass, blending in the with the colors of the cover and showcasing the villains from the issue. Connor uses some of the same "Inside Silk Spectre's Head" panels this time but they are much less cartoony. In one sequence, Silk Spectre is put into the same pose in two adjacent panels to show the passage of time - the scenery changes around her. In the first panel, she's pulling on a boot. In the second, she's climbing through a window. It's a neat trick and shows the innovation Conner brings to her work.

The first have of the story is "narrated" by a letter to "Uncle Hollis." This is the better part of the story as the pictures often reveal much more than Laurie's words such as when she says, "It's not all fun and games." Most of the panels in this section don't have actual panel boxes around them to indicated an extended flashback. We're witnessing the origin of the new Silk Spectre.

The villain's motivation is a bit sketchy to say the least. Apparently, those hippies have rejected materialism to the point where they have stopped buying albums. So the plan is to release a drug that will induce teens to buy records. Unfortunately, the drug may have some negative side effects. The Beatles and (I think) Jim Morrison appear for some reason that's kinda unclear. Frankly, the story didn't need the complication of materialism-inducing drugs. Just having a new drug enter the market would have been enough to push the Silk Spectre into action.

In the end, the song lyrics (Peek-A-Boo, I'm Watching You) that are playing at a party blend together with Greg's dialogue (Don't Worry, I'll take good care of...), merging together on the word "You" as the panels fade to white and Laurie succumbs to the same drug that put her friend in a coma.

The Crimson Corsair backup (which actually has the title character in it this time!) really takes a turn toward The Pirates of the Caribbean. We are introduced to a crew of the undead, their cursed captain, a ship called teh Flying Dutchman, and a reference to Davy Jones. It kinda left me scratching my head... why go in this direction when it seems so similar to the Johnny Depp movies? We'll see what develops. 

Kingstone Comics

The Book of God

Art Ayris is the executive pastor of a Baptist megachurch in Florida. This guy is a major player (he once purchased a hotel and turned it into a place to help homeless families call Samaritan Inn) and he's turned his attention to comic books.

Echoes of Eden

I think it is great that he's used comics as a medium to tackle some serious issues. Kingstone Comics, Ayris's comic book company, produces some informational comics that answer common questions people have. Books such as the Book of God explain how we got the Bible we have today. 101 Questions About the Bible and Christianity (there are two volumes) tackle everything from where Cain got his wife from to answering if the Bible mentions UFO's.

Kingstone Comics also publishes fiction comics as well, but from a Christian worldview. The title 2048 explores a sci-fi future where human-animal hybrids exist. Babylon greatly expands and explores the story of Daniel, who was an adviser to four kings. And Echoes of Eden is a murder mystery involving human trafficking in Asia.

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #2 Reaction

Minutemen #2

The sixth comic to be released for Before Watchmen and the first of the second issues, Minutemen #2 picks up with Hollis continuing to refine his tell-all book in 1962. This then leads Hollis back to thinking about 1939 when the Minutemen were forming.

The formation of the Minutemen with the tryouts is funny to see. It's kinda like America Idol - for every person with actual talent you have 25 that are less than spectacular. Then the fully-formed Minutemen go on their first mission. It's a... success, but instead of illegal munitions, they raid and destroy a fireworks factory. They then lie about it to the public and it lays a tainted foundation for the team.

It quickly becomes apparent that, as a super team, the Minutemen, will do good when they can but they are more concerned with their public image. When it is suggested that they investigate a child trafficking ring it is shot down because it wouldn't make for good press. Likewise, Hooded Justice is counseled to spent time in public with Sally to draw attention away from his affair with Captain Metropolis.

The last three pages are the real heart of the story, however. Three scenes are inter-cut on top of one another. In one, Mothman, Silhouette, and Nite Owl attempt to track down the child trafficking ring only to find a body strung up. In another, the poem, "The Unseen Playmate", by Robert Louis Stephenson is used to creepy effect to illustrate a child being abducted to panels eerily shaded all green. The third scene is Captain Metropolis, bound by Hooded Justice and begging him to stop. The effect of the three scenes has an almost mesmerizing effect.

Darwyn Cooke is having his way with the Minutemen and doing a brilliant job at it. His art style is reminiscent of the Batman: The Animated Series style but the subject matter is much darker. Writing wise, he can capture the essence of a character in a single line. The Minutemen have a wide variety of personalities and motivations and he somehow grasps them all simultaneously - from the Comedian to Night Owl.

The backup story, part six of the Curse of the Crimson Corsair, is really only six panels long and takes the main character from his raft and onto a ship where he meets the title character - The Crimson Corsair!

Redwall Graphic Novel

Redwall Graphic Novel

For fans of fantasy action adventure, you can't miss with Redwall. It's a tale of a medieval world populated with talking animals. The noble ideals are alive and well as Matthias struggles to find his courage and take a stand against the forces of evil.

The Redwall books are extremely popular and there are literally dozens of them in addition to an animated series so a graphic novel is a no-brainer. What we really need is an ongoing Redwall series, perhaps tells new stories in the world of Redwall.

Like Mouse Guard? Redwall was the original Mouse Guard so check it out (either as a GN or the originals novels)!

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1 Reaction

Ozymandias #1 is the fifth comic to come out in the Before Watchmen series.

Ozymandias #1

The comic book actually starts on October 11, 1985, during the continuity of the original Watchmen story. Ozymandias is documenting his own life in case his mission fails.
The story then goes all the way back to 1938 when Adrian's parents came to America. The sequence in which Adrian is picked on by schoolyard bullies sets the tone for the issue and, presumably, the series. After getting picked on Adrian learns martial arts and viciously maims the bully. The image with the bones sticking out of the bully's leg is truly gruesome.

As a teen, Adrian goes on a voyage to retrace the steps of Alexander of Macedonia. Along the way, the sequence with the bully is repeated, except this time it is an entire gang of thugs in a port city along the Black Sea.

This issue does a great job of painting a very clear picture of Adrian. Not only is he clearly superior to a normal human he also considers most of humanity to be beneath him. He is cool and viciously logical. To convey this sense of detachment, most of the panels are "silent" - without dialogue or even sound effects. This smartly conveys this sense of detachment from humanity.

That changes, however, when the Miranda character is introduced. Suddenly, the pages are filled with dialogue. Even though Adrian was distant and detached, it's evident from this switch that he did, indeed, care for Miranda. Which makes it odd that, with all of his intelligence, he didn't see her death coming. Once she dies, the story concludes, again, with "silent" panels heavily narrated with text boxes.

Miranda's death ultimately proves the catalyst for Adrian creating the Ozymandias persona.

Len Wein does a great job with the issue. He really nailed the character of Ozymandias, gave him a full backstory, and sets the character in a firm direction going forward. The use of "silent" panels really empowers the artist to tell the story and gives us unspoken insights into Adrian's character.

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of Jae Lee. I've tolerated his work on the Dark Tower series but for me his images are too dark, use unusually and unnecessary perspectives, and character and scene designs are all remarkably similar to one another. While these elements are certainly present here, somehow the "Jae Lee"-ness of it seems to have been toned down a bit. Sure, the tree the bully attacks Adrian under is ridiculous, just as the skyscraper under construction is. But quite a few of the pages are quite bright. And Jae Lee is simply great on page 3 - check out the shading on the Statue of Liberty.

As for the two-page Crimson Corsair backup, the teaser at the end of the last issue is revealed to be a false tease. The threat of the shark is quickly dispatched but the ending is noteworthy. Instead of a thrilling tease, Len Wein instead goes for philosophical ponderings. Alone and drifting on the open sea, the main character reflects that Hades wouldn't be eternal fire but the ocean at night.

Amelia Rules Vol. 8: Her Permanent Record

I'm a huge fan of Amelia Rules.

These books find that rare ground where both kids and adults can read them and like them. There is a bunch of things in them that I'm sure going right over kids' heads (such as the name and slogan of Amelia's school) but kids can really relate to the realism of Amelia's story.

Volume 8: Her permanent record has just been solicited. According to the article in Previews, Jimmy Gownley says this will be his last Amelia Rules book! I can't believe it! I won't believe it! I've met and spoken with Mr. Gownley extensively and he told me he had plans for Amelia into and through high school (which would be, like, 50 books or more - time does slowly pass for Amelia and her gang.). If it is true, it's sad news indeed.

If you've never read any of the Amelia Rules books, I suggest you check them out. Volume #5: The Tweengage Guide to Not Being Unpopular is actually a good place to start. You can find them at any public library worth its salt.