Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo Book 3: The Battle of the Bards,Used

Product DescriptionNimona meets Adventure Time in the third installment of this fullcolor graphic novel about a singing skeleton who finally finds his origins alongside his gelatin monster sidekick!Rickety Stitch is a walking, talking, singing skeleton, the only animated skeleton in the dungeon who seems to have retained his soul. He has no idea who he used to be when he was covered in a living, breathing sack of meat and skin. His only clue to his former identity is a song he hears snippets of in his dreams, an epic bard's tale that could also explain the old fog covering the comical fantasy land of Eem...Oh, and his sidekick and only friend is a cube of sentient goo.In this racetothefinish final volume, Rickety faces all manner of new creatures on his ultimate quest to uncover the secret of Epoli and learn his true origins.From School Library JournalGr 7 UpThe Felmog are moving to spread the Gloom across the land, and it seems as though the heroic Order of the Ember might not be able to defeat them. Meanwhile, jovial Rickety Stitch, a skeleton with few memories of his past life yet who longs to learn his true identity, is joining his friends in a theater romp. The Battle of the Bards promises fame, glory, and even a golden lute to the winning performance troupe, and Rickety and his gelatinous buddy, Goo, are the stars in an unlikely entry. Just one problem: Rickety is a bard, not an actor! And when the Felmog unleash their fiendish plot, it's up to Rickety to help the Order of the Ember save the day. Though this tale references previous titles in the series, it can easily be read by newcomers. The vibrant artwork brings to life the medieval fantasy world and infuses Rickety with a charisma and energy reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas's Jack Skellington. The writing deserves similar aplomb: Characters deploy casually selfaware humor, as though their lives are as mundane as our own. This is a wordier narrative that explores character motivations, leading to a richer conclusion. Younger readers, or those expecting a breezier tale from the lighthearted illustrations, may be disappointed, but older readers and fans of the first two stories will appreciate this fully realized narrative. Though the protagonists are nonhuman, Rickety's world is diverse, with several characters of color. VERDICT A solid purchase for libraries where graphic novels are popular, but for collections already familiar with Rickety, this one is a must.Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles P.L.a(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.Review'In perhaps the most swashbuckling of the series, Parks and Costa have filled their vibrantly colored panels with intrigue, epic battles, and espionage. Kirkus ReviewsAbout the AuthorBen Costa is a writer and artist living in the Bay Area. He has selfpublished two volumes of his awardwinning martial arts historical fiction comic Pang: The Wandering Shaolin Monk. He has also done work for IDW, Viz Media, and SF Weekly. Throughout his life he has maintained a steady diet of samurai comics, kung fu movies, spacefaring farmboys, and tabletop RPGs. Follow him at @BenCosta.James Parks is a speculative fiction writer and graphic novelist living in the Bay Area. James was weaned on monster flicks, ghostbusting, lightsaber duels, samurai cinema, and comicswith a sober dose of Victorian literature and '80s cartoons. James is also the author of the southern gothic horror collection The Gospel of Bucky Dennis, was a staff writer for Campfire Graphic Novels, and is a member of the Horror Writers Association.