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Battling Boy | April 9, 2014

by Paul Pope (First Second/Macmillan Children’s, October 2013)

Battling Boy is the latest graphic novel from comic veteran Paul Pope, and it is an explosive start to a series that places fun above all else. On the eve of his thirteenth birthday, Battling Boy is sent from the cosmic heavens by his warrior father to a world beset by an army of monsters. It’s a kind of superhero coming-of-age ceremony. The only problem is Battling Boy isn’t ready for the responsibilities or trials of being a hero. It’s a premise that allows Pope to explore the hero myth — both in modern superhero stories as well as classical tales — as well as the more relatable struggles of a boy trying to live up to the expectations of his parents and society. But equally important, it is a means to deliver action-packed fun as a super-powered, thirteen-year-old demigod takes on a host of mythical monsters.

Pope’s art is classically inspired, peppered with heavy line work and balloon-word sound effects. Battle scenes are epic in scale and pace, yet the illustrations shine in the more quiet character-driven moments with subtle, deft facial work. Just about the only shortcoming that can be leveled at this book is that it must end before the entire story can be told. Fortunately, Battling Boy’s adventures are far from over, and this initial entry should be more than enough to convince readers to invest in the journey.

 

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