Broken Frontier

When Artie and his pals enter a robot contest, the horde wants them out. However, the friends find an older kid who just might have a secret weapon for them. Now, Artie must find his inner strength to do what is right and win the day.

Frank Cammuso, creator of Max Hamm, Fairy Tale Detective, graces readers with the second volume of his kid’s version of the Knights of the Round Table. He has created a magical school that is entirely accessible from this volume and brings back the joy of something kids today miss out on entirely, the Saturday morning cartoon.

First and foremost, his tale is fun and filled with energy. It is whimsical and a breeze to read. This volume focuses on Artie King and his cohorts as they prepare for the annual festivities of Camelot Middle School’s Dragon Day. Along the way, they must avoid the fists of Joe & his gang of bullies, stay on the good side of Principal Dagger, deal with little sisters, clingy moms & junkyard dogs and listen to the sage advice of Merlyn, their science teacher.

There is enough adventure and cute laughs to keep younger readers entertained while teaching them a valuable lesson. Cammuso hits all the notes along the way. He creates a familiar world through the universalties of school age mischievousness and an old legend. Any kid at heart will delight at this tale that pits an able David against the various Goliaths that life throws his way. Magical lockers and ladies of the cafeteria are just icing on the cake.

The author’s cartoon style art allows for a vibrant and pleasant read. One can almost see the animation happen. It reads and looks like a modern day Fat Albert and the gang. Not only does it have an iconic theme, but the art seems to bridge the gap between Hanna Barbera and the early cartoons produced by Nickelodeon. All this makes it the perfect book for that eight to twelve year old audience. Those readers independent enough to want their own thing, despite any worries their parents may have.

Knights of the Lunch Table is a worthy successor to Captain Underpants and a perfect bridge to the more complex worlds of Amulet and Bone. Doomsday prophets that would say the end of comics is at hand should take note - Scholastic is hard at work keeping comics alive for the next generation with safe, all ages friendly reads that not only have a heart but a valuable lesson along the way. Parents need not worry that the publisher is trying to keep up with the times, giving up their values for edge. This book is all heart and should be pleasing to the conscientious parent everywhere. Now, if we could just find a middle ground to the more mature oriented books stuffing the stands at your local comic shop.