Full disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book from BooksForward and SHP Comics in exchange for an honest review.
Content warning: this review briefly mentions violence and animal abuse.
If I had a nickel every time I reviewed a graphic novel written by Shawn Hainsworth under the pseudonym Darin S. Cape, I would have a dime, which is weird that it’s happened twice. It’s been awhile since I read a manga. Luckily, Hainsworth along with illustrators Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto have one by infusing that genre into their latest graphic novel Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. It’s a fun adventure story with self-aware humor and contrasting visuals that blend together.
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is the first volume of the “Zicky” series. Deep underground, Zicky plunges into the lair of the Rat King – a tyrant with an army of rodents striving to invade the real world. Meanwhile, a mysterious supervillain hides in the shadows, and the fate of both places hangs in the balance. Just as the battle begins, Zicky wakes up…back in his bedroom surrounded by his siblings who tease him for believing his adventures are more than just dreams. Join Zicky on his first adventure where he will need all of the persistence, humor, and ninja skills to survive.
I adore the book’s tone. The humor is spot on. It contains slapstick, pop culture references, and breaking the fourth wall. I especially love its homage to the 1960s Batman television show by saying “Same Zicky time, same Zicky channel.”
At the same time, it knows when to be serious, especially the conversation between Zicky and his dad early on. Hainsworth, Decrux, and Gabotto also avoid undercutting emotional scenes with jokes. The graphic novel strikes a good balance between the story and the humor.
One of the most unique aspects of this graphic novel is the use of two different illustration styles. Decrux employs the manga style while in the Rat King’s realm with a bold color palette and swift movement, while Gabotto utilizes a more realistic one in the human world with subdued colors and relaxed pacing. Both work separately and together. The transition from one style to another when Zicky travels back to the real world is beautiful and effortless. There’s even a plot point where the supervillain, while in the human realm, has to come up with a potion to make the rats appear like they did in their universe.
Both the tone and visuals make the graphic novel appealing, but it’s the story that readers will come back to time and time again. It’s about a boy who actually fights various enemies when he’s supposed to be asleep. He tells his family about it, yet they don’t believe him because they think he’s imagining them. I was invested in the plot throughout, but I was locked in when both worlds collided. I wanted to know how Zicky was going to triumph. Although the ending was abrupt, I bet that was done deliberately to set up the sequel.
With all of my praise for this graphic novel, I’ve noticed that it might not please every young reader. For starters, some of the jokes will fly over kids’ heads like the one about the oligarchy after Zicky defeats the Snake King. Most of them still work though. Additionally, there are several instances of violence. Zicky slices his enemies with his katana at times, but it doesn’t get too gory. There’s also animal abuse with how the supervillain treats his dog, yet other characters call him out for it. It’s for these reasons that I would recommend it for kids between the ages of 9 and 12.
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King by Shawn Hainsworth, Zeno Decrux, and Hiorsh Gabotto is a fun, action-packed manga-inspired graphic novel. It channels the best comics and mangas for its humor, art style, and story and nails it on every level. The contrasting illustrations are beautiful to look at and tell the story perfectly. These are grounded with a good story about a boy who wants to go on adventures when he’s supposed to be asleep. While it’s not for every kid, I would recommend it to most, especially those between the ages of 9 and 12 and who love action/adventure graphic novels. Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King will be out Tuesday, April 14, so grab it wherever you get your books.
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Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything 