Written and created by an 8 year old with the help of her 10 year old brother (writer/illustrator). This new series is a comic book for kids, written and drawn by kids. The first installment is 50 pages. 3 kids go into a portal that takes them to random places. Where do they end up? Who do they meet? What adventures do they come across? Penelope Rivera came up with the basis of this story in the 3rd grade and over the summer of 2018 had the ambitious idea to have it published and sold at Barnes & Noble. Her dream is to be an author when she grows up and hopes that this comic will make other kids laugh, happy, and entertained. In addition, Penelope and Josh would like to use this book as a vehicle to help others. In 2019, the kids donated a portion of the sales of their eBooks to Give Kids The World in Orlando, Florida (a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides week-long, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families). In 2020, because of the coronavirus, a portion of the sales of this eBook will be donated to Clean the World.
This comic book attempts to launch a whimsical journey filled with exploration and discovery. Unfortunately this comic book struggles with narrative cohesion and character development, leaving much to be desired.
The story in this comic book follows Penelope and her friends as they embark on a series of adventures meant to captivate young readers. The premise holds promise, aiming to blend elements of friendship, curiosity, and excitement. However, the execution falls flat, with a narrative that lacks depth and fails to engage me personally effectively.
Penelope, the protagonist, is introduced with the potential to be a charming and relatable character. Yet, her development is minimal, leaving her motivations and personality underexplored. The supporting characters fare no better, often appearing as mere plot devices rather than well-rounded individuals. This lack of character depth makes it challenging for me personally to form an emotional connection with the story.
The dialogues throughout this comic book are pretty simplistic and, at times, uninspired. Conversations between characters often feel forced, missing opportunities to inject humor or meaningful interactions that could enhance the narrative. This contributes to a sense of monotony, as the story progresses without memorable moments or engaging exchanges.
The artwork itself in this comic book does little to elevate the storytelling. The illustrations are basic and lack the dynamic energy needed to capture the excitement of Penelope’s adventures. Backgrounds are often sparse, and the character designs, lack expression and detail. This results in a visual experience that feels static and unremarkable.
One of the core issues I had with this comic book is its inability to balance simplicity with engagement. While the story is straightforward and easy to follow, it lacks the creativity and excitement necessary to capture the imaginations of young readers. The adventures themselves are predictable, offering little in the way of surprise or innovation.
Despite these shortcomings, the concept behind this comic book remains intriguing to me personally. With a focus on adventure, friendship, and discovery, it holds the potential to become an engaging series for children. However, to realize this potential, future comic books in this series would need to focus on developing richer characters, crafting more engaging plots, and enhancing the visual presentation.
I Give This Book 1 / 5
