Boom! Box 2017
Written by Kirsten ‘Kiwi’ Smith & Kurt Lustgarten
Illustrated by Naomi Franquiz
Coloured by Brittany Peer
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Nothing’s happened in Wilder’s hometown since they filmed that cult kids’ adventure movie there in the 80s...but that’s ancient history. Until one day, she and her friends come upon a centuries-old pirate map drawn by someone named Black Mary...and find out there might be some REAL adventure in their tiny town after all!
Isn’t this was what every kid who grew up watching The Goonies wished for? That there town had a real secret like theirs did. Okay maybe not because the town was going to be basically shut down and everyone would no longer be friends because that would stink. But the treasure part yeah we all latched onto that one easily enough. Who doesn’t think that Pirates are cool? Doesn’t matter how old you get there’s always going to be that part of you that loves the idea of them. This story brings all those feelings back to the forefront and ya know what it makes me feel like anything’s possible again.
I think one of the aspects of this that really impresses me though is that while this is an all-ages offering the cast aren’t kids. They are a group of women who are older and have lives, jobs and that lifelong friendship that we all cherish. This is different than i’m used to seeing but it’s a welcome sight nonetheless. I think that adds this air of originality and goes a long way with the whole legend of the town that was used to film a movie and tie that together with the upcoming adventure itself. I mean it’s one thing when kids go off and do something like this but adults, or twenty-somethings, well that’s something else altogether.
I like the interior artwork here too. It’s got a great look and feel to it while still maintaining some nice attention to detail. Okay yes i’d like to see more backgrounds in use here there are times we see them and they do wonders and it’s so much nicer than some of that drab colouring.
I like the way this story is structured as we go through meeting each of the friends one by one. There’s one moment that needs to stand out as it’s the catalyst for what’s to come but that something you’ll see when you read this. Otherwise it’s a great look at a small coastal town where life seems to have stood still and options are limited even with that one event which put it on the map.
Oh I will say this there’s a poker playing pooch in this and you’ll have to see it to believe it but it’s one of the best things i’ve seen in ages! That goes along with the writing, pacing, story development and characterisation that we see here. I’m a huge fan of all-ages books that not only help the younger generation get to see what the future could hold but reminds those of us who may be slightly older that friendships come in all shapes and sizes and all should be respected and cherished.