COPPER
written and illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi
Graphix/Scholastic
ISBN: 9780545098939
Ages 8-up
96 pages
Almost immediately, COPPER draws to mind the great ’80s comic-strip series Calvin and Hobbes. Only this is the story of a boy and his talking dog. Beyond that, it’s also more esoteric in many ways. Just as he did with his highly enjoyable Amulet series, Kazu Kibuishi shows here that he is masterful at paying homage to his childhood influences while building on them and expanding them into new territory.
First published as a series of webcomics, Copper expands on the collection with new stories. All are wild and full of adventure, both of which give Kibuishi ample room to display his artistic talents. Kibuishi has a wonderful eye for movement, and his perspectives --- switching from wide shots to closeups, broad angles to narrow --- are impeccable. A personal favorite are the water scenes in the book --- and there are several: deep-sea diving, waterfalls, tidal waves…they all are marvelously rendered by Kibuishi here.
Included within the many one-page stories here are some larger tales, including the brilliant “Maiden Voyage” and the finale, “Lunch Pack.” The stories always have a sweetness and an innocence to them without crossing over into saccharine fare.
Capping off COPPER is a “Behind the Scenes” section offering a peek into Kibuishi’s studio and his artistic process. This alone makes the book indispensible for aspiring artists and storytellers. Kibuishi’s take on his own art is as charming as the rest of the book.
Once again, Kibuishi solidifies his position as not only an exciting, vibrant storyteller but also one who writes with a wide-eyed optimism that’s simply infectious.
--- Reviewed by John Hogan
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