  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 10/01/2009 The stars of the graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge (2008) move from the Old West to the big city, and this time the spotlight shines on Jack. After his success during his time on the run with Rapunzel, Jack returns to the city determined to prove to his mother (and to Rapunzel) that he is not the scheming delinquent she believes him to be. Instead, he finds the city controlled by an evil giant and under attack by a mysterious enemy. Jack must come up with his best scheme yet to defeat the enemy, save the city, and prove his worth to the women he cares about most. The urban setting suits this retelling of the familiar beanstalk tale; Nathan Hale’s art gives it a steampunk twist, and the addition of fairy-tale creatures like giants and pixies is natural and convincing. Shannon and Dean Hale have done an excellent job stretching the bones of the traditional fable into a high-action coming-of-age story that will keep young teen readers excited and engaged. - Copyright 2009 Booklist. School Library Journal - 01/01/2010 Gr 4-9 –The Hales follow up Rapunzel’ s Revenge (Bloomsbury, 2008) with this fast-moving story focusing on Jack. It begins in the city of Shyport with his birth. Even as a child, Jack tends toward scheming, conning, and thievery with various accomplices, including Pru, a hat-fancying pixie. One scheme involving magical beans and the wealthy and corrupt giant Blunderboar goes awry, leaving Jack’s tenement and his mother’s bakery destroyed. Jack’s mother orders him to go, and go he does with a certain goose under his arm. After the events recounted in Rapunzel’s Revenge , Jack and Rapunzel head back to Shyport to set things right. They arrive to find that Jack’s mother is being held prisoner by Blunderboar, who is virtually running the city. They team up with Pru and Freddie Sparksmith, a young journalist, to save Jack’s mom and the day. Nathan Hale’s artwork again places the action in a fairy-tale version of the American West, now with the city as backdrop. His character sketches are delightfully expressive, and the book has the same rich palette as the previous story. It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue. Some fans of Bill Willingham’s “Jack of Fables” series (Vertigo) may also enjoy this take on the “Jack” stories for a younger audience.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2010 This sequel to the energetic Rapunzel’s Revenge (BCCB 9/08) focuses on Rapunzel’s sidekick, Calamity Jack. As he points out, though, they are going to the city, where Rapunzel will be his sidekick rather than vice versa. That’s kind of optimistic for our hapless hero, but it’s that kind of optimism that has gotten him this far. The full-color graphic novel starts with a history of Jack’s criminal history, where every caper, though marginally successful, ends with him in more trouble than he bargained for, including the complete destruction of his mother’s tenement and business. After this disaster, he flees town to escape his fate and make his fortune, which takes us to his entry into the plot of Rapunzel’s Revenge. Following the pair’s success in that adventure, they are headed back to make good on some promises Jack has made, only to find the town in shambles, living under the thumb and in fear of Blunderboar, the giant Jack ran afoul of in his early days. Blunderboar has kidnapped his mother, and Jack and Rapunzel, joined by a newspaperman with a fondness for gadgets, embark on the dangerous mission of retrieving her while liberating the town from Blunderboar’s reign of terror. As in the former book, a lot of action combines with clever plotting, intertextual allusions, and a bit of romance to produce a fully satisfying romp. Also as in the earlier book, the graphic design is exceptionally well laid out and easy to follow, even for those still getting the hang of the format. The full-color artwork has depth, energy, and plenty of exaggerated violence and humor. The story stands alone in its focus on Jack and his troubles, but it will entice readers to pick up the first book to see how he teamed up with the feisty Rapunzel in the first place. KC - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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