Review: Frankie Pickle Series

Though not purely a comic book, the Frankie pickle series will have a lot of appeal to young readers who enjoy both narrative and comics.

Frankie Pickles wishes he had superpowers… instead he’s surrounded by a loving family and a loyal dog. In his first adventure, Frankie decides it’s too much trouble to clean his own room.  When mom refuses to pick up after him anymore, Frankie lets the mess pile up. He even stops bathing. But when the mess gets so large and so bad, Frankie uses his “super” powers to clean everything up… and finally takes a bath.

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom

By Eric Wight

Ages 7-10/Grades 2-5

Simon & Schuster, May 2009, ISBN 978-1-4169-4684-1

96 pp., $9.99

Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000

By Eric Wight

Ages 7-10/Grades 2-5

Simon & Schuster, February 2010, ISBN 978-1-14169-6485-8

96 pp. $9.99

In his second adventure, Frankie fools around and gets distracted so he doesn’t earn the necessary points for his Possum Badge Troop and therefore can’t advance to the next level with all his friends. He has one opportunity to catch up by entering the Pine Run 3000. He has to build a match car and race it.  Though dad offers to help, Frankie refuses.  He doesn’t follow the directions that come with the car, so his car is a bit of a flop. But Frankie’s dad comes to the rescue, readily forgiving his son’s earlier snubs.

The Frankie Pickle stories will surely entertain young readers.  The stories, feelings, and antics are perfectly age appropriate. The author truly captures the age and the feel of young boys.

The artwork, though just black and white ink drawings are bold and comical. They add to the humor and appeal of the book.  The comics are well placed in the narrative, so that the two forms truly complement each other and seamlessly work together, rather than looking like someone tried to stick together two formats into one story.

Though this isn’t purely a comic, Frankie pickle will appeal to young fans who love a little super-hero, especially the imperfect kind.  This is a little bit of comic and a lot of fun.

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