Official website of writer Aaron Johnston

Archives for February 2006

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

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I’ve been reading a lot of young-adult fiction recently, and this delightfully charming novel might be the best of the bunch. Originally written in German and released in 2002, The Thief Lord follows a group of runaways in Venice who are watched over by the mysterious and self-assured Scipio (the Thief Lord), a boy no older than themselves. Two of the gang members are brothers on the lam from their aunt, a mean women who wants to adopt Bo, the younger of the two boys, but send Prosper, the older, off packing to an orphanage.

When the Thief Lord is offered a high-paying theft by an aged and wealthy Conte, the kids see it as their one-way ticket out of poverty. But the Conte isn’t what he seems. And the children soon find themselves in more danger than they bargained for.

It’s a beautiful story. Adventure and mystery and family and loyalty with just a sprinkle of magic to boot.

I was THRILLED after I read it to learn that a film based on the book was coming out on DVD in March. You can bet your picked pocket I’ll be the first in line to rent it. A.

Family Fun at its Finest

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Sky High didn’t get a lot of attention at the box office last year, which is a shame since I think it’s one of the most entertaining films of the year. The film gets its title from the fictional high school for the sons and daughters of today’s superheroes. To keep it hidden from the super villains of the world the high school floats in the clouds and is constantly in motion.

The story surrounds one Will Stronghold, the son of Earth’s most powerful and beloved superhero husband-and-wife team: The Commander and Jet Stream. But unlike his parents, Will doesn’t seem to have any powers or any way of filling the shoes of his over-achieving parents.

Kurt Russel, who plays Will’s dad is downright hilarious. The man hasn’t done comedy in a while (maybe since he and Goldie Hawn went Overboard), but the absence from the genre isn’t evident in his performance. I was laughing out loud throughout.

Great stunts. Real human emotion, including some genuine teenage angst and adolescent rivalries. This one’s a homerun, folks. A solid A.

Superman Batman #23

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I rarely buy comic books. I feel guilty when I do. My wife doesn’t read them, and taking a bit of the monthly family allowance to buy something only I will read feels like a selfish indulgence. And it is. But, hey, it’s my birthday. I’m allowed a little spending money on my birthday.

Ed McGuinness is my favorite comic artist–1) Because he draws a squared-jaw Superman that’s half realistic and half Saturday morning cartoon and 2) Because he draws Superman.

I’ll admit it, the Man in Steel is my comic character of choice. Yeah, he wears a silly costume, but let’s not forget that he fights for truth, justice, and the American way. Not many people can say that. Nor many aliens, which Superman is.

Since I buy comics so rarely I prefer the comic I pick up to be a stand-alone story, with a beginning, middle, and end, which is why I was so disappointed with Superman Batman #23. The whole book was confusing. A) It had two of the dumbest comic characters created: Bizarro and Batzarro, which are opposite-speaking mindless versions of Superman and Batman and B) I had no idea what was going on. The big twist in the end that explained why everyone had been acting like pawns in a big chess game should have been an “Aha!” but instead felt like an “Oh brother!”

Better luck next time. C.