Young girls' adventure goes Hawaiian, as Xeric Grant winners Julie Yeh and Jack Hsu give us the first of Poppie's Adventures.
Randy:
In addition to sketches, food, drink and great company, one of the many boons that Don and I received from attending San Diego this year was a whole bunch of new review material. First on the list is a new entry in the young readers adventure genre, a Xeric Grant winner named Poppie's Adventures.
Don:
The creators have crafted something in the Nancy Drew vein, and it's delightfully light and entertaining read. The only flaw here is that the writer seems to overcompensate on exposition for the younger readers at which this project is clearly targeted.
Poppie's Adventures: Serpents in Paradise
written/colored/lettered by Julie Yeh
illustrated by Jack Hsu
published by Way Out Comics
Don:
Poppie Field is a college student who's taking some time off to experience the working world, and she lands a freelance writing gig. She, along with shutterbug James Hamamura, is tasked with developing a travel magazine article about vacationing in Hawaii, and it promises to be the most relaxing job Poppie could ever hope for. Unfortunately, she didn't count on encountering an unusual smuggling operation and Egyptian cultists.
Randy:
On the back page of this book, the creators list among their influences Tin Tin, Asterix and Hayao Miyazaki. I definitely get that sense from Poppie's Adventures, especially the former two, as the book is aimed squarely at a young reader and seems designed as much to impart information about a place and its culture as to tell a story. My initial thoughts upon seeing this would be that it would be along the lines of Leave it to Chance, but it skews a little younger than that, reminding me more than anything of a Hardy Boys mystery.
Don:
I think my favorite aspect of the book is how Poppie's expectations keep proving to be off the mark. She hopes for fantasy -- to be pampered at an exclusive resort and possibly hook up with a Prince Charming type -- but she gets adventure instead. Her disappointment doesn't cripple her either. She rolls with the punches, so to speak, and it makes for a better balanced title character.
Randy:
Yeh's storytelling is bright and fun, light on the actual tension and danger (which is probably good for a younger readers' book) and light on characterization, but heavy on information and plot. There's a certain lack of subtlety in the work, from the boyish personality of Ham to the overly telegraphed reveal of how the snakes are getting to the island, but while that makes it less attractive for older readers, I think younger readers will be charmed by the story and find it much easier to follow than many comics, which are aimed over their heads. In addition, what Yeh lacks in subtlety she makes up in enthusiasm, and it's hard not to be swept up in the likable go-getter nature of Poppie or the interesting stories of Hawaii.
Don:
You touch upon my only real misgiving about the book. Yeh is so focused on making this story accessible for younger readers that she repeats the necessary information over and over again. The script renders the two-page primer that precedes the story completely redundant, for example. Still, there's no denying the educational (and entertainment) value in the plot and script; I even came away from the book with a few new nuggets of information.
Randy:
Jack Hsu's artwork is likewise clean and bright, and I was surprised to learn that this was Yeh's first experiment with coloring a comic, because the colors are terrific. They pop off the page, and while they are more primary and less textured than the work of experienced comic-book colorist, that primary color look works perfectly for the tone of the book and really makes the art shine. In terms of style, Hsu's work reminds me most of Tom (True Story Swear to God) Beland. He's got a good eye for exaggerated expressions, but he grounds it in some strong detailed backgrounds that give the story a sense of place. And the action sequences flow smoothly as well. Hsu is a film illustrator and architect by trade, but the style and strength of his work would have led me to believe that he was an animator.
Don:
I see what you mean. I see a strong Disney influence in his work here, especially when it comes to his depiction of James "Ham" Hamamura and the leader of the cult. The colors are quite strong -- not garishly bright -- and I have to admit to being impressed with the lettering. The unique font is in keeping with the lighter tone of the story.
Randy:
Older readers may find Poppie's Adventures to be a bit slight, but this book definitely hits its mark in terms of appealing to younger readers. Poppie's Adventures strikes me as a series that could uphold the legacy of globe-trotting adventure comics like Tin Tin, and comic fans with young children might want to put this book into their hands.
For more information on Poppie's Adventures, visit
