Lollipop Kids Vol. 1: Things That Go Bump In the Night

by Adam Glass, Aidan Glass, Robert Hack (Cover Art)

When immigrants came to the new world they didn’t only bring their hopes and dreams, they also brought their MONSTERS. Years ago, early setters locked these monsters away in a secret prison deep in the woods of NEW AMSTERDAM so that they never would return to the Old World. Those woods have be-come CENTRAL PARK and now the monsters have escaped! NICK, 14, finds out that he’s a “lega-cy” to a secret society that for the last 400 years has kept these monsters in check – he and a ragtag group of kids just like him have to put the monsters back before they get out of the park and destroy the city.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2019

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick is 14 and has dyslexia. His older sister Mia, who is almost 18, didn’t come home last night and she wasn’t at school today. Concerned, Nick looks for her in Central Park where she usually hangs out with her friends but she’s not there either.

He does find the Big Bad Wolf though. Or perhaps I should say the Big Bad Wolf finds him.

Fortunately for Nick, the Lollipop Kids are there too. They’re a group of kids who have inherited a massive responsibility: to protect the city from the monsters that have been imprisoned within Central Park. It turns out that Nick is also a Lollipop Kid.

I loved the concept and I adored that the story was co-created by a father and son. Unfortunately, while this graphic novel had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters and even though I’ve just finished reading, I only remember a couple of their names. Because the artwork was so dark most of the time I didn’t get much of a sense of anyone’s emotions.

During this Volume you learn some of the history of the Lollipop Kids, including how they managed to get that name, in a series of info dumps. There are some twists along the way, including a cliffhanger ending, but I don’t think I’ll be reading Volume 2.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Aftershock Comics and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel. I’m rounding up from 2.5 stars.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has a lot of potential. It's about a group of kids who fight monsters in Central Park. When America was colonised, immigrants dumped all the monsters from Europe here in America where Central Park became their prison. Now the kids of certain families patrol Central Park to keep New Yorkers safe. There was too much exposition in places that felt forced but overall, it was fun. The art was very good too. It had a bit of an Oliver Coipel feel to it.

Received a review copy from Aftershock and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, I can't be mad at you, Lollipop Kids Vol. 1! Yes, there's waaaay too much narration, yes, the story is not very original, yes, the final fight feels a bit ropey, yes, the art takes a bit of time to find its footing.. but this book's heart is in the right place. I like how the book incorporates real world locations (there really is a Whispering Bench).

Characters have been introduced, the stage is set. Seeing as this is seemingly a republication by Aftershock, maybe another volume is on the horizon..?

(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lollipop Kids Vol. 1: Things That Go Bump In the Night' by Adam and Aidan Glass with art by Diego Yapur is a story of monster hunters in Central Park.

When immigrants came to America, they also brought the monsters from their home countries. A group of children fighters formed to fight them. That legacy was passed from generation to generation. When the children turn 18, they forget about their fight. Now Nick finds out he is part of this legacy, but first he has to be convinced that this whole thing is real.

I like the premise. I like the art a lot. The first issue has a lot of monologue about the main character and I wish the story had launched a bit faster with it's pacing.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Aftershock Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork of this volume was absolutely beautiful! It was an amazing twist on Wizard of Oz’s lollipop kids and I was fully invested the entire way through the book. I feel like this graphic novel would be loved by people who loved I hate fairyland and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet! I am very impressed by this author and can’t wait for volume 2!

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5. A bit too childish for me. I did enjoy the art and the fantastical universe with all those monsters and monsters hunters kids, but the story felt a bit blank and the characters as well, maybe younger reader wouldn't mind that, but I did.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that the author created this for his dyslexic son. And the main character is dyslexic.
The art isn’t doing it for me.
Hahaha, Expo is my favorite character!
His learning disability helped save the day. Where was this comic when I was struggling with dyslexia as a kid?
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Ray Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, boy, it’s been a while since I’ve read a really good YA graphic novel that made me squeal with excitement!

Lollipop Kids is what I would have wanted to read when I was a teenager: it has a bunch of different and interesting characters, all of them charming in their own way; it is action-packed and fast paced, yet from page one you’re immersed in this story.

Apparently some monsters and terrible creatures have been terrorizing people, thus, these teenagers fight against them with their unique powers, to keep the peace among their peers. These powers and weapons are almost like heirlooms, and it is their legacy to younger generations. These kids have to protect what they love, no matter what.

If you like witches, werewolves, ghouls, King Arthur’s Excalibur, strong female characters, non-binary characters and a thrilling, gorgeous art, I’m sure this one is for you!

Last but not least, one of the authors as well as the MC has dyslexia and it’s good to see that it doesn’t stop them from creating a wonderful, exciting story and to fight against monsters respectively. I hope we see more of them in the future!

I received an e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review via Diamond Comic Distributors.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Aftershock Comics in connection with SLJ's Teen Live! programming for librarians for the eARC of this title. This in no way changed my rating**

This was cute. I was especially happy to see two biracial protagonists. As a biracial person who grew up in the 90s, there was no representation when I was a child, so I'm so happy for this generation of children getting to see themselves.

The story was a little convoluted in parts. I think this would get resolved in further volumes, so I'll check those out as they are published. I thought the explanation parts were a little sparse. I wanted more information about the former Lollipop Kids, the parents role, why there was a war, etc. It's discussed in part, but not very deeply.

The drawings are also a little inconsistent, especially with Mia. There are times she looks her age (17-18) and there are times she looks much younger. Moving forward, I would like to see more consistency in the characters. But I do enjoy it as a whole.

Overall, I would recommend. It's a cute combination of History and Fantasy with both biracial rep and dyslexic rep.

[Tegan Jessop · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
The art style of this was absolutely stunning! The story itself was a little bit tropey and predictable but I still enjoyed my time with it for the most part.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… A reasonable teen-friendly comic where a young kid slowly realises he's destined to become a greatly successful monster basher, devolves into a very generic teen-friendly monster fighting comic. I had no problems with the weird mythology being set solely around Central Park, and that New York was once a repository for all the unwanted nasties of the old world, I didn't mind the fact the first 'twist' was relating a character we'd actually forgotten had even existed by that stage, and I didn't even object to the artwork being so awkward at times the lead lad looked more like a lass. No, what I saw as a problem was a battle against witches in the 1770s featuring this trope from that story, that element from that legend, and of course giant, self-manifested things made out of bright green. I guess they felt the need to riff from so many other comics to justify the League of Extraordinary Generic Baddies that is in the background of the big fight, but heck, a bit more thought and originality would have kept this on a better keel. I think it's a little misjudged to have the level of violence on the page when the age of the character and the simplicity of the plot would seem to suggest a tweenage audience, but if you're OK with a few detached hands here and there, and a couple of spears through heads (and an axe called a hammer) then feel free to consider it for the young person you buy comics for. As I say, the younger the better, if only to reduce the chance of them complaining that they've seen it all before.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork of this volume was absolutely beautiful! It was an amazing twist on Wizard of Oz’s lollipop kids and I was fully invested the entire way through the book. I feel like this graphic novel would be loved by people who loved I hate fairyland and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet! I am very impressed by this author and can’t wait for volume 2!

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Lollipop Kids Vol. 1 through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Lollipop Kids Vol. 1: Things That Go Bump in the Night is a fun take on kids being the guardians against the monsters. Because naturally, kids are the best at spotting them. In this case, only kids of a certain lineage seem to be able to see and thus stop the monsters. But it is still a fun concept.
This graphic novel is great if you go into it expecting nothing more than a fun read. It’s lighthearted, on the whole, though it does have an undertone of a serious message as well (the importance of doing what’s right, friendship, and family).


The Lollipop Kids Vol. 1: Things That Go Bump in the Night was very fun and dare I say, cute? Okay, maybe that word doesn’t apply perfectly here, but I’m sure you get my meaning. Here we have a group of children fighting monsters and the like.
Naturally, this series is a lot less graphic than it could be. Though it does hint heavily at the fact that kids have lost their lives in action, this was never shown (thankfully). Because it wasn’t as intense as the fighting monsters trope could have allowed for, it’s perfect for kids and adults alike.
The Lollipop Kids valiantly guard against all monsters and evil – rightup until they turn eighteen years old. It’s the result of a curse, of a curse, but it also gives an excuse for why there are no adults helping with the problem.
I’m a bit conflicted about the lore for the lollipop kids, truth be told. On the one hand, I think it’s fun and clever. On the other hand, I think that having it be a lineage thing (but focused only on children) might have been a little much. I almost think I would have liked it better had it been that kids with the right temperament or skillsets were targeted. But that’s my personal preference.
They were very clever in the way they introduced the plot to the readers. They used a kid with the potential to be a lollipop kid as the main perspective. Thus when he became initiated, we got to learn alongside him. Simple yet effective.
I love that they added some family drama and dynamics to this tale. Sure, it may have been slightly heavy-handed at times, but on the whole, I actually do think it enhanced the complexity of the plot being told. Plus, it gave us more of a reason to become emotionally invested.
On the whole, this graphic novel was a blast to read, as well as being relatively quick to get through (unsurprisingly). I don’t know if a second volume is planned for the series or not. It felt like it could go either way, towards the end. I suppose only time (and sales numbers) will tell.


For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[*Layali* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the introduction to this collection of comics. Adam Glass explains where he came up with the idea for the story line, which is primarily due to an imaginative way to help his young son cope with dyslexia but also a way for him to share his experiences growing up in NYC.

The story starts with Nick searching for his older sister, Mia. What he didn’t expect was to discover that he was a part of a secret society that goes back generations defending humanity from monsters living in Central Park.

I really enjoyed this. It was a super fun and quick read, filled with magic and fantastical retellings. I also really enjoyed all of the bits of information and history about New York scattered throughout the scenes. The art style was great. I loved the colors, monsters, and abstract items; however, I felt like there could have been some improvements on the human art. I really enjoyed the characters in this. Nick was a great main character. I also loved Expo, the gremlin.

There were a lot of cheesy bits, but overall I’m excited to continue on and see what happens next. The ending of issue five really left me wanting more, and I hope that the creators can continue on with the story line. Pleasantly surprised by this!

I received an ebook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: PG13 (22 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
When his sister doesn’t come home on the eve of her birthday, Nick sets out to find her. They haven’t been tight since they were little, but he never imagined that Mia would be hiding so much from him about her life and their shared heritage with the Lollipop Kids. As monsters emerge from Central Park, Nick has to make a choice: is he taking up the responsibility of a Lollipop Kid or not?
The story is exciting and fast paced, and I love the beautiful illustrations that accompany the words. Honestly, I was hooked and ready to love this story from the introduction -- before anything even got started. Knowing how this story came to be made the story and the little details better for me than if I had jumped into joining Nick on his journey. I think that Mia’s perspective on Nick’s difficulties is an attitude that we all need to adopt and cultivate.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story follows Nick, a child with dyslexia in NYC that is searching for his sister who didn't come home the night before her eighteenth birthday. He goes through Central Park, one of their old play areas, to try and find her. Instead he encounters monsters and a group of other children called the Lollipop Kids. He is destined to join their ranks, despite not having any fighting abilities. As far as my opinion...the art was good. But the character's voices were stilted and odd, and the story felt rushed and disjointed. Even though graphic novels are usually pretty quick reads, I struggled with this one just from not really enjoying it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent YA comic. It stared off a bit slow and info dump-y but quickly picked up speed. I loved the world building and rules of the Lollipop Kid universe and especially appreciated the dyslexia of the main character/his way of seeing the world being treated as an asset to the team. Not a perfect book by any means but a lot of fun and well tailored to its teen audience. Recommended!

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

[The Smoog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really cool concept, and some of the artwork on display is stunning, particularly the setpieces. The issue I had with it though, is that while the MC is fine, every single other character comes across as a total douche, and I really couldn’t have cared less whether they lived or died. The deus ex machina ending was pretty disappointing too. I would have been conflicted about continuing the series, but as there don’t appear to be any more, I guess that’s one problem solved.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam & Aidan Glass came up with a fun and different take on the "monsters under the bed" concept and the art by Diego Yapur (along with colors by DC Alonso) bring the right blend of fun, fantastical and creepy.
An enjoyable story. Well told with solid art. Would be a good choice for most teenagers and those who remember the Monsters in the Closest.

Bonus: Covers were done by Robert Hack

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool concept and excellent art. I look forward to seeing what Vol. 2 brings.

[H R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the artwork.
I feel like the concept of immigrant bringing monsters into their new world is kind of offensive to those who have actually been immigrants.

[Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8/5
I enjoyed this book a lot, had a very 4-5th grade feel to it. I think I would enjoy it more if I had access to the rest of the series, but I liked this one volume I got to read. Pretty good!

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

For being written by a 14 year old with his dad’s help, it’s pretty good.

[Sykas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this graphical novel has plenty of elements from other well known I still found it to be really interesting and was engaged in the story till the last page. The art style and coloring, in my opinion, is well done.
The story behind this creation was interesting and shines more light on such things as dyslexia.