SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

June 2, 2010 by Snow Wildsmith

Review: Shrek Forever After: the Prequel

June 2, 2010 by Snow Wildsmith   1 comments

If you’ve seen the new Shrek Forever After movie, then you might be wondering why Rumpelstiltskin was so mad at our favorite green ogre at the beginning of the movie. Well, all your answers are here in Shrek Forever After: the Prequel, along with two bonus stories featuring Donkey and the Gingerbread Man in new adventures.

Shrek Forever After: The Prequel
Authors: Scott Shaw!, Matt Anderson, Jason M. Burns
Pencils and Inks: Drew Rausch, Mikhail Drujic, Rob Reilly
Colors: JM Ringuet, Jay Moyano, Paul Little
Letters: Jason Arthur
Cover: Robb Mommaerts, Rolando Mallada
Ages: 9-12
Ape Entertainment/Kizoic, May 2010, ISBN: 9781934944851
52 pages, $6.95

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I have to admit that I’m rarely a fan of movie spin-off books. However, I am a Shrek fan, so despite any misgivings, I was eager to read Shaw and company’s stories. The first tale, “Rumpelstiltskin’s Revenge,” is the strongest, which is a good thing, since that’s the one that is going to sell this comic to other Shrek fans.The story is from Rumpelstiltskin’s perspective, giving his reasons for why he hates Shrek and showing him attempting–again and again without success–to get Shrek locked into a contract which will spell his doom. While kid readers might not get some of Rumpelstiltskin’s disguises–the Yiddish movie director, the Richard Simmons clone–they’ll definitely get the fart jokes, and there are a lot of them. Readers who have already seen Shrek Forever After will enjoy the new back story, but even readers who haven’t seen the movie will chuckle a little at Rumpelstiltskin’s antics and Shrek’s obliviousness.

The second story, “The Lost Flute,” is a reworking of the Pied Piper story. Donkey gets caught up in helping Pied Piper get a new flute and, as so often happens in the Shrek universe, disaster occurs. Donkey’s cheerfulness contrasts nicely with Pied Piper’s rather sinister attitude and the theme of revenge also appears, tying the story together with the first tale. The third tale, “The Cookie Monster,” falls rather flat, despite some cute moments. The ogre baker from Shrek Forever After makes her comic debut, helping and being helped by Gingerbread Man, but there is no introduction to her, so if you haven’t seen the movie, then you won’t know who she is.

Though each story is written and illustrated by different creators, they all blend smoothly together. One addition that would have helped with the flow would be to add chapter dividers between the stories to allow the readers’ eyes and brains to transition more easily. But the colors are bright enough to be recognizable as part of the Shrek world, while also subtle enough to keep them from seeming garish or overly childish. There is plenty of movement within the simple square and rectangular panels, keeping the stories flowing nicely. As this is just a movie spin-off book, it’s not a first pick for purchase in my mind. However, for a movie spin-off it is competently done and will definitely appeal to the target audience, so if you want to add something a little fluffier to your collection, this isn’t a bad choice.

This review is based on a complimentary copy supplied by the publisher. All images copyright © Ape Entertainment.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith is a writer and former teen librarian. She has served on several committees for the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association, including the 2010 Michael L. Printz Award Committee. She reviews graphic novels for Booklist, ICv2's Guide, No Flying No Tights, and Good Comics for Kids and also writes booktalks and creates recommended reading lists for Ebsco's NoveList database. Currently she is working on her first books, a nonfiction series for teens.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

Review | Mickey Mouse: Zombie Coffee

by Snow Wildsmith

May 2022

Review: Red Scare

by Snow Wildsmith

April 2022

How To Spot A Sasquatch | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

April 2022

Review: Miss Quinces

by Snow Wildsmith

March 2022

DC Super Hero Girls: At Metropolis High | Review

by Snow Wildsmith

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Notes on June 2022

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: Listen to the Language of the Trees by Tera Kelley, ill. Marie Hermansson

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

by

The Classroom Bookshelf

by

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Manga, An All-Ages Starter List | Mondo Manga

Graphic Novels for Cat Lovers

PEN America and Trust Project Release Newsroom Transparency Tracker | News Bites

Best Graphic Novels 2019 | SLJ Best Books

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Review: Shrek Forever After: the Prequel « Good Comics for Kids -- Topsy.com says:
    June 3, 2010 at 11:56 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by SchoolLibraryJournal and Good Comics for Kids, Brigid Alverson. Brigid Alverson said: RT @GoodComics4Kids: Snow Wildsmith reviews Shrek Forever After: The Prequel: http://bit.ly/cNtAcf […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2022


COPYRIGHT © 2022