Book Info:
The Mighty Onion by Mark Crilley
Genre: Middle Grade
Publishing Date: April 2, 2024
My review:
5 stars
What a fun read, and here is why. This is from the same author and illustrator of other amazing graphic novels (such as Lost in Tawain) and How to Draw books. The format is amazing and gives us, not only the daily adventures of a kid's journal who wants to make an amazing comic book adventure but can't draw.
Each page looks like the page of his diary with simple and fun drawings illustrating his attempts to find a decent illustrator for his comic. It's not as easy as it seems. In a way, Pam has no interest in this comic (at first) or in drawing it, but people like their work together, and she learns she has a lot of fun. The problem is that they will take their time to understand how to work together. This is very pertinent it's not easy to determine who the project belongs to and who makes it successful when there is no communication. Is the story more relevant than the hard work of the illustrator?
Is it right to change another's work and edit without acknowledging that it's harder to do than just what they may think? I've been in both parts, and I relate to both characters a lot. The same questions can be applied to other creative projects that include a band or team.
Awesome story and fun. Their comic of the onion superhero is also fun, and reading the fan mail is a great extra.
Thank you, publisher, for the copy and including me in the tour. My review is voluntary.
Synopsis:
This hilarious illustrated novel about the chaos of the creative process follows middle schooler Eliot Quigly as he endeavors to create the best superhero comic ever—with unforgettably epic hiccups along the way!
Eliot Quigly is sure of one thing and one thing He is sitting on the greatest superhero comic idea of all time. Combine radioactive onion rings with a run-of-the-mill kid and you get the Mighty Onion, a crime-fighting superhero who gains extraordinary powers whenever he eats onions. It’s genius! Eliot can’t wait to get his brilliant idea out into the world, but there’s only one he’s terrible at drawing. Eliot is about to throw in the towel when he lucks upon the perfect illustrator—classmate Pamela Jones, who begrudgingly agrees to help. With his ambition and her artistic talent, there’s no stopping this dynamic comic-creating duo. But partnership is a tricky road, and creative differences arise quickly. Will Eliot and Pam stick together long enough to make this vision a reality? Using a mix of comics pages, journal entries, handwritten letters, and more, author-illustrator Mark Crilley explores the triumphs and tribulations of the creative process—and teamwork—in a series opener that’s unlike any you’ve seen before!
Book Links:
About the Author:
Mark Crilley is an American comic book creator and children’s book author/illustrator. He is the creator of Miki Falls, Akiko, and Brody’s Ghost. He is also noted for his instructional videos for drawing in the manga-style. Crilley distributes drawing advice to artists via YouTube videos and his DeviantArt account. In August 2010, he starred in some how to draw videos for Funimation on demand. Mark Crilley’s wife is Miki Crilley who he named Miki Falls after. The two have a daughter, Mio, and a son, Matthew.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.markcrilley.com/home.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/markcrilley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcrilleyreal/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36452
Tour Schedule: