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Review: Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring #2

The brilliant colors and fantastic illustrations of this book will draw young readers in, and the kid-friendly, adventure-filled story will make the reading experience a pleasurable one.  Jim Henson’s muppet creatures that live in the walls and explore the fantastic cave-like worlds get a faithful adaptation in this comic book. FraggleRock02_coverAKate Leth targets her audiences well by having the narration boxes fill readers in to the story by rhyming.  Like many great storybooks, re-readability is enhanced as children will key in on the rhyming patterns while following along and begin saying the words at later rereadings.

Jake Myler makes the pages spooky and dark but keeps the scary critters not so frightening by giving them wide grin and big, round eyes.

Although the comic stays true to the tales of Gobo, Boober, and the Fraggles, the breaks into songs don’t quite translate all that well.  Nevertheless, the story of the brave explorers in search of the Everspring does convey a sense of fun throughout.  The message of being brave will be easily understood and gladly accepted by all readers.  And the postcard from Uncle Traveling Matt made me grin with nostalgia.

The climax of the book brings back some tiny characters that will win readers over with huge smiles.

For an adult reader like me, I enjoyed every well-illustrated and colorful page of story in this book.  Jim Henson would be proud that the creative team on this book faithfully captured his legacy.  My only regret is that I didn’t have a pint-sized audience to read this book to, but the kid hiding deep in my heart felt darn good after this adventure with the Fraggles.


Score: 4/5


Writer: Kate Leth Artist: Jake Myler Letterer: Corey Breen Publisher: Archaia/BOOM! Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 11/12/14 Format: Mini-Series (2 of 4); Print/Digital