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"A book is a human-powered film projector (complete with feature film) that advances at a speed fully customized to the viewer's mood or fancy. This rare harmony between object and user arises from the minimal skills required to manipulate a bound sequence of pages. Each piece of paper embodies a corresponding instant of time which remains frozen until liberated by the act of turning a page." The Reactive Square - John Maeda

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Maxx Hamm Fairy Tale Detective, V.1

Text and Illustrations by Frank Cammuso

Assignment: #2 of graphic novel annotations
Publication info.: Syracuse : Nite Owl Comix 2005. 207 p.
Genre & Format: Fairy Tale; Graphic Novel
Awards: Booklist 2006 Top Ten Graphic Novels; Reviews in School Library Journal and Booklist
Grades: 8 and up

Summary: “In this throwback to the pulp-novels and film-noir era, porcine detective Max Hamm is a combination of Sam Spade and Porky Pig. In the first story, The Big Sheep, he unearths scandal and deceit involving the murder of his partner, Humpty Dumpty. The Long Ever After is a carefully woven tale of intrigue surrounding Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. The characters communicate in pun-filled dialogue that works well with the story, and is not overdone. Typical graphic-novel panels alternate with a layout more typically found in picture books, a convention Cammuso employs to bring a solid juxtaposition of text and illustration to the book. Many fairy tales are referenced, and the concept of combining them with this setting results in a truly enjoyable plot. Readers of both comics and graphic novels will relish this volume.” Review from SLJ Nov. 2005

Comments: The graphic novel panels are used to tell the story in the present, while the storybook sections are to tell a story from the past to explain something happening in the present. I enjoyed the connections made between fairy tale characters that had never been put together before. The idea of a pig detective having a love affair with Snow White, a lounge singer, is reminiscent of Who Framed Roger Rabbit in that it presents a very unlikely love affair. The puns made me laugh, but maybe I’m a bit silly that way. I think this is a great segue way for students new to graphic novels that need that connection to a genre they are already familiar with to get into the format.

Booktalking ideas: I see a fedora and trenchcoat being implemented, plus a bit of the vernacular used in old detective films. “So you think fairy tales are just for the little kiddies, eh? Well hows about you meet Max Hamm, then we’ll talk.” Etc.

VOYAesque Rating: 5Q 4P

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