Comic Book Review: ‘Find Kelley Green’
Find Kelley Green is a new independently published comic book by Sarah Banning. The story starts off with a girl who has been mysteriously attacked. Then young Wot is introduced going to Bramley Boarding School – the site of the attack! Wot’s father also attended Bramley but has recently disappeared. The only connection Wot has to his father is through a special book titled Find Kelley Green which his uncle and his father thought was real when they were young. This proves to be more than Wot expected when two strange creatures suddenly appear! What are they and where did they come from? Another student at the boarding school, Lettie, has a weird encounter as well. Lettie does not fit in with her peers because she is a bit too smart for her own good and her interests are rather unusual. What is the peculiar creature that shows up in Lettie’s room and what does it want?
The story and pacing are well written. It is an engaging mystery that makes you extremely curious to know what happens next, what are the creatures, and how was the little girl hurt? The text bubbles are easy to read and the font has a Disney-esque quality. Find Kelley Green is an all ages comic book that both kids and adults can enjoy. It has just the right amount of mystery and creepiness that kids can follow but will entertain adults. The art style is whimsical with identifiable characters, saturated colors and an almost soft sketch-like quality. Wot appears small and vulnerable wearing his father’s old sweater which is much too big on him. His large eyes convey his bewilderment and uncertainty. Lettie’s confidence is amplified by her abundant curls (an ambitious choice successfully pulled off by Banning). I especially liked Lettie’s suspicious half squinty eyes and expressive eyebrows.
Find Kelley Green has monsters, mystery, adventure, and fun for all ages! The comic book is available for free on their website but you can also purchase it for only $4.95 (limited edition copy) and support indie comic books. You can also check out their twitter and facebook accounts for more info.
