I’m not ashamed that like Connor, I also genuinely enjoy Disney movies, cartoons such as Phineas and Ferb, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Teen Titans - ah hell, I pretty much like Cartoon Network. I collect Pop Vinyl! Zelfs and Hot Wheels cars and I enjoy a good collectable - regardless of what it is. In all honesty, I think I get more excited about the release of some toys than my own sons do.
I only recently found out about Speedy Hen after they contacted both Connor and me to see if we wanted to review an item. We had the option of choosing any items but Connor and I headed straight to the graphic comic section. Yep, I’m a sucker for a magazine type book with cartoons in them. I find I easily get drawn in by the imagery and the story and in times of high stress (which is pretty common with thirty-something’s) it’s sometimes good to revert back to your inner child, you know as a form of stress relief. Say it with me now ‘ohm’
I took a few days (OK it was actually about three days)to pawn over the range of graphic comics available, I finally settled on Adventure Time or DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon series. Again each of these series’ contained multiple comics within the one cover which in my opinion is great value for money.
My final decision was ‘’DreamWorks Dragons, Riders of Berk – Tales from Berk’
This graphic comic was created by Titan Comics, who also
create Doctor Who, Assassins Creed, Regular Show and Warhammer to name a few. My choice and many others contain two stories
within the one cover, call me a tad greedy but two comics over one will always
get my vote. Connor also chose a two-story graphic comic with Darth Maul being the main character. You can check out his review here of Darth Maul - Death Sentence.
The two stories are (from the blurb):
• Dragon Down |One
of the dragons goes missing and the hunt is on to find him – before the enemies
do!
• Dangers of the Deep
| Stoick and Hiccup encounter something huge and deadly in the mysterious Veil
of Mists.
• About the series and the comics •
Some of the main characters from the series include Hiccup
who is the main protagonist in the stories and movies, he lost a leg in an
accident and was the first to ‘train a dragon’, Toothless is the main dragon,
he, like his rider, has a disability but neither of them let it affect their
ability to problem solve, ride, or do good for others. Stoick The Vast and
Valka is the parent to Hiccup and his friends include: Fishlegs, Ruffnut and
Tuffnut, Astrid.
• Some of the main dragons include •
• Toothless who is a Night Fury and is ridden by Hiccup.
• Meatlug who is a Gronkle and ridden by Fishlegs.
• Stormfly who is a Deadly Nadder and is ridden by Astrid,
• Skullcrusher who is a Rumblehorn and is ridden by Stoick.
• Hookfang is a Monstrous Nightmare and ridden by Snotloud.
• Barf and Belch is a two-headed Hideous Zippleback a is ridden by Ruffnut and Tuffnut.
• Toothless who is a Night Fury and is ridden by Hiccup.
• Meatlug who is a Gronkle and ridden by Fishlegs.
• Stormfly who is a Deadly Nadder and is ridden by Astrid,
• Skullcrusher who is a Rumblehorn and is ridden by Stoick.
• Hookfang is a Monstrous Nightmare and ridden by Snotloud.
• Barf and Belch is a two-headed Hideous Zippleback a is ridden by Ruffnut and Tuffnut.
Each of the riders and their dragons is similar in some
ways, very much like how owners these days match their dogs. Along with the
species of dragons being different, they each bring different characteristics to
the story making it somewhat unconventional. I mean most characters these days
(especially for children) don’t seem to have disabilities. Sometimes things go
wrong in this series, sometimes they fall out and I like that. I like that they
really are bringing an element of real-life to the cartoons and comics because that’s
what kids and adults need to see and read. To remind us that hell, life isn’t
always rosy and you know, things work out fine in the end.
• The imagery •
Just look at this example of the imagery, here you will see the gang ranting about Hiccup (as usual). Look how detailed the artwork is without it
being pixelated or grainy. The images are sharp, their clear and, they get the
mind working overtime. You really can imagine being in that place at that time
(yes I know it’s not a real place).
The covers also are of a super high standard, the print work
on these is awesome and because they are super glossy, they will last a long
time without easily being marked, scratched or ruined. I like that *winks* I
like things that last and are easy to care for.
• So why did I choose this option over others •
Well, it’s
partly due to my sons. Over the years we’ve enjoyed many DVD’s with How to
Train Your Dragon’s being one of them. Every time it would come on I’d always
say in a very deep and manly voice with a strong Scottish twang ‘How
tae trrrr-ain yur draguns’ and the boys would laugh and copy me.
Because of that, and my youngest sons love for Toothless (the main dragon) I
couldn’t not choose this option.
Yes, I will benefit, but ultimately so will my sons as I know
each of them will also get enjoyment out of the comic. So value for money this
is definitely up there. Not all of my sons are into reading novels, but this
type of graphic comic they absolutely all will enjoy. As a parent, anything I
can do or buy to get my sons using their imagination and reading more is money
well spent or time well spent in my opinion.
You don’t need me to tell you to go and check out their
range of comics but if you’re oohing and ahhing over whether you would enjoy
one of these, or you ‘could’ enjoy one of these without the backlash of someone
saying ‘you’re not a child’ then my answer to that is absolutely Yes, Yes, Yes!
• Stress reduction – tick
• Some ‘’you’’ time – tick
• Cost per read – tick
• Beautiful imagery that will make your eyes happy – tick
• Excellent table reads props or shelf ornaments– tick
• The ability to pass this onto someone of any age or gender –
tick
Check out the range (the first book in a few days of online browsing,
you’ll thank me later) over at Speedy Hen. Let me know which ones stand out or
what you’ve purchased yourself. Should we get the #graphiccomicohms going
(!!!) for mums or dads who prefer to read the graphic comic and ‘not adult’ rather
than yoga and meditation?
Elyse
Statement: PR Sample
Very interesting article.Thanks for sharing such a good stuff.
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