Attention all parents:
Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday May 1st. Go to the Free Comic Book Day website to find a participating comic book store near you. The stores near me usually limit the kids to 3 free comics per child.
Also, make sure, especially those of you with younger kids, to preview the comics your child selects. There will be non-child appropriate comics available. The list of comics for this year is also available on their website:
My suggestions:
Archie’s Summer Splash! #1
Fractured Fables
Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock
Shrek & The Penguins
Toy Story
Bongo: Free-For-All (Bongo does The Simpson’s comics)
*Love and Capes #13
*The Tick #1
Owly And Friends
*Oni Press Free-For-All!
*Irredeemable #1
DC Kids Mega-Sampler
* means not for younger kids
by John Varley is the third book in his Red Thunder series. I wasn’t thrilled with book 2, but upon learning that the main character in book 3 was named 
, I felt I had to read it. I should have listened to my gut. The book wasn’t horrible, but it definitely wasn’t good.
live action series only lasted for nine episodes, but it is a under-appreciated gem. Patrick Warburton was fresh off his role of Puddy on 
when he stepped into the big blue costume as the clueless, but lovable Tick. The network was hoping for a Seinfeldesque series, but then (unlike what happened to Seinfeld) canceled it quickly with low ratings. The acclaim and following from the short lived series pushed the DVD series to come out in 2003 and it’s a must own for all fans.
by Blake Charlton has an interesting premise. The characters are decently written and motivated, but I just couldn’t get into the book. There is a reason why you don’t see a lot of fantasy reviews here, because I’ve just lost my appetite for the fantasy genre. There are occasional books that pique my interest (such as this one), but the fantasy genre has lost my interest. But how is Spellwright?
is a Cartoon Network series for younger kids. It doesn’t feature continuing storylines or even our hero’s alter egos (for the most part). It is a simple and fun story with good guys and bad guys. The teaser usually has one (or two heroes) with the main story featuring a different hero to team with Batman. It’s is closer to the modern comic book mythology (using the new Blue Beetle for instance), but will occasionally use older characters.
is a recent graduate of a superhero academy. He was near the top of his class, but he has trouble flying. Not flying itself, but starting to fly. It usually takes him 5 tries to get off the ground. And he has an assistant superhero, she didn’t go to the superhero academy, but is fearless and helps Melvin a lot. Greg Trine has created a funny superhero series that plays with the genre and makes it exciting for younger kids.
is the scourge of teachers everywhere. A entire book series about two boys who pull pranks on teachers, classmates and family which features a superhero that runs around in his underwear. But it is a bona-fide success and is a funny irreverent look at superheros in a style that young boys love.
was originally started as a non-fiction article on 
and then followed it up with 
. These are wonderful books for young children (they’re aimed for 3-7 year old kids), but can be enjoyed by all ages.