Pax Samson Vol. 1

Pax Samson is not quite sure if he wants to be a superhero -- but after following him on his adventures, training, and quick cooking interludes, you'll be rooting for him to put ion that mask and join his family in their battle against bad guys trying to tear their town of magical beings/humans apart! Oni Press always produces the cutest, more enjoyable comics, and this is an exciting entry kids are going to love. The illustrations are bright and fun, and each character, from Grandma, who has power of the gods, to his time-traveling aunt, to his sometimes shirtless and boastful cousin, stands out with their own personality and superhero traits. I can't wait to share this with a few youth I know -- thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I was initially meh about another superhero graphic for kids, but this title won me over on the *first page*.

Gray-haired Grandma Samson and her partner Space Cowboy enjoying a little camp coffee while talking about handing over the family business after 400 years of heroing? Their relationship was so loving and cute, the exposition was intriguing: I was immediately hooked.

Pax Samson is a cutie, his super cooking/psy-skills are just good and ridiculous enough that you can believe why he is nervous to set out as a real hero, and also why he (spoiler) ultimately triumphs.

Cute start to a kids graphic novel series, I enjoyed it as an adult reader too!
Pax is a kid figuring out who he wants to be and he has a supportive family around him. It’s all draped in fantasy and super powers but at the heart it’s a story about a kid figuring out who he is and what he wants. His family loves him even if he’s a bit different from them. (They’re heroes that punch problems. He’d like to cook and talk things out.)
I’d hand this one to a kid of the right age, maybe 10, who liked fantasy or superhero stories quite happily.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pax Samson Vol. 1 by Rashad Doucet and Jason Reeves is an action-adventure graphic novel for children that will appeal to fans of Steven Universe and Adventure Time. One highlight of this book is that it is an #ownvoices book with a protagonist who is a Person of Color. The situation is getting better now with the current literary landscape, but there could be more graphic novels, particularly superhero graphic novels for kids, that features heroes of color. SInce many of the characters in this graphic novel are PoC, I support the author 100%.

The plot of the story revolves around 12 year-old Pax Sampson, who is a young member of a famous superhero family. Similar to the plot of Sky High by Disney, except in a completely different galaxy, Pax is learning how to live up to the expectations of others and his family, including his grandma, who is "the greatest superhero to ever live" according to the book's description. When trouble comes along, will Pax be able to rise to the occasion and protect his family and the universe?

Overall, Pax Sampson Vol. 1 is an enjoyable, interesting graphic novel for children. If your child is a fan of superhero comics or Steven Universe, I think this graphic novel will also appeal to them. I really enjoyed the bright colors and pastels in the artwork. I also think this graphic novel will appeal to Ms. Marvel's Kamala Khan, another #ownvoices superhero comic. It has similar themes of being brave and rising to the occasion. If you're intrigued by the description above, or if you're looking for a superhero graphic novel for your child, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!

Heartwarming and fun, the perfect adventure for all the family.
Theres something about the artstyle in this graphic novel that I found captivating, its really energetic, I could easily see it being a cartoon

Pax Samson is imaginative, colorful, and engaging. I would gladly share this book in a school library or on a classroom shelf.

My son, aged 8, is an avid graphic novel reader. We read this together and it has the makings of a start to a great series. Full of humour and heroic escapades, this is a fun book for young readers.