Action Lab Entertainment 2017
By Marty LeGrow
Lettered by Justin Birch
When Troybot tries to show off his latest accessory, he ends up proving that the term “harmless toy” never applies to a robot with a rocket launcher. Meanwhile, Trixie's tried everything to reunite Minky with her toy accessories, Chad and Robert. But in trying to make a new friend, she accidentally uncovers Dollington Academy's oldest secret!
Normally cutesy all-ages girl themed comics are something I tend to stay away from. Yet what Marty is doing here is so well thought out, executed and really rivals anything that’s come before, like Strawberry Shortcake, that the feel good, friendship comes in all shapes and sizes mentality really strikes a chord. I wasn’t feeling in a good mind space today, the reasons are relevant, and when I decided this was what I was going to read and review it gave me that uplifting quality that you need on bad days. That’s the power Marty possesses and she knows how to make the most of it.
While the whole concept here is almost absurd to me it’s still a wonderfully whimsical way of showing off a new idea for how toys are made and marketed. It borders on genius really as well as something we’d love to see created by contestants on Face Off, your challenge is to create a new doll character for Toyetica.
Well the characterisation here is really very good as there are a lot of different personality types to be found. I’m really glad that despite everything there are those who are nasty and clueless consumed with nothing being marketed, sold and achieving some semblance of fame and glory to the innocent sees the good in everything and everyone plus all those in-between. The range is such that while they may be fellow students, yes competing against one another, they don’t have to be friends per se but ill end up that way regardless.
The all-ages cartoon style interior artwork not only has that picture book quality but the way the page layouts are used with their angles and perspective are very well done. The more simplistic approach combined with the characters and in the utilisation of backgrounds really makes a bigger statement than I would have thought. While there’s still this great emotion and expression coming from their faces which almost, almost gives it a Disney feel.
I really enjoyed seeing how the multiple story arcs happening here seem to weave into one another. The structure, pacing, and story development here are top notch stuff and it allows the reader to feel like the exact amount of time in each little segment is right. There are a few things in this that actually surprised me and among them was getting to meet a very wise and loving woman. Add that to the way that Trixie wouldn’t give up on Minky and how that changed their dynamic it really has that feel good moments.
We like to make comparisons it’s just in our nature but while this has familiarity it also has a ton of originality. While there is that everything’s solved in a half hour quality that we would find in The Facts of Life there’s more depth tot his. Adults will love that about it and kids well they’ll see the friendship aspect and how to help one another and not to give up. By the way the things the kids primarily see are actually the same lessons adults need to relearn to be better people.
Look don’t just take my word for it but this is one of those series that is silly sure but it has this magical effect to make you smile and wash away your cares for a short time so check it out for yourself and see what I’m talking about.