Neptune

by Aron Nels Steinke

Neptune est l’histoire d’Erika, une jeune et aventureuse élève de CM2 , de son agité de petit frère Patrick (CE2) et de leur fidèle chien Neptune (non scolarisé). Le jour où Erika et Patrick ratent le bus de l’école, ils ne se doutent pas que des événements extraordinaires vont leur arriver. Entre une interminable marche jusqu’à l’école, des QCM surprise, un gigantesque ouragan et la perte de ses devoirs, Erika doit garder toute sa tête alors qu’elle tente de protéger son frère, son chien et peut-être même le monde entier. Aron Nels Steinke tisse une joyeuse et énergique histoire pleine de rebondissements, avec des moments de comédie, de l’aventure, de l’émotion, et même une chanson.Neptune est un livre pour enfants et adultes. Enseignant en école primaire, Steinke est assez lucide pour admettre que les élèves détestent l’école. C’est cette honnêteté et sa volonté d’explorer le point de vue de ses jeunes personnages qui donnent de la profondeur à son livre. A travers cette histoire présentée comme un conte, il montre des enfants confrontés à l’école, aux enseignants, à l’encadrement scolaire mais aussi les rapports entre élèves, et surtout leur impressionnante capacité à inventer des histoires fantastique sans éprouver le besoin de distinguer le réel de l’imaginaire.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I see of Steinke's comics, the better I like them. He's self-published several mini comics such as Big Plans #1-3 and the Super Crazy Cat Dance. He's also contributed to some great anthology titles like Not My Small Diary and Papercutter. Neptune is his first book-length effort. He worked on the project for over a year. It's based on a story he developed for an animated cartoon several years ago, that was never completed. Rather than let the story languish, he decided to turn it into a comic.

Neptune is about a young girl, her brother, and a stray dog. It's an all-ages story, but it's entertaining enough to be fun for adult readers as well. Steinke is studying to be a teacher, but he's wise enough to acknowledge that kids hate school. It's this honesty and his willingness to explore the perspective of his characters that gives what would otherwise be a charming picture book something more—a little depth.

For example, there's a scene at school in which the Vice Principal calls in the janitor to deal with a dog (Neptune) inside the building. George (the janitor) knows he's got to enforce the rules, but as he rushes to respond he's thinking, "I like dogs, but I've gotta act tough." Besides being a funny line, it shows the conflict the character feels as he tries to reconcile his gut reaction with what he's expected to do.

The book explores the familiar territory of childhood such as getting ready for school in the morning and leaving the house early enough to catch the bus. Then Steinke adds the dream of finding a stray dog that instantly loves the kids as much as they love him. And finally he pushes past reality entirely with another event that adds danger and adventure to the suburban neighborhood setting.

Like his story, Steinke's artwork is charming and entertaining with unexpected depth. He uses bold lines and lots of black. Some panels are stark with only a character's head and a line of dialogue. Others are richly textured with detailed backgrounds or intricate patterns or stippling. Most pages are composed of six uniform panels, but others add drama or mood changes through layout or explode out to the edges of the page.

I saw a few of the originals at a local reading and was surprised by their size. They seemed only slightly larger than the printed pages. Each panel was drawn separately, cut out, and then pasted down onto bristol board. Even the edges of the cut-out panels were carefully colored black before being glued into place to eliminate shadows or the appearance of uneven borders.

Neptune is a real treat, that I highly recommend. It's 160 b&w pages, plus full color cover. 5" x 7", perfect bound, printed by Brown Printing and published jointly by Tugboat Press and Sparkplug Comic Books. It's available for $14 from Powell's Bookstore and other outlets. For his latest projects, check out Aron Nels Steinke's website.

[Max Hockley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason this book does not get a 0 is because I actually liked the art. The story, however, (if you can even call it that) had virtually no conflict, no interesting characters, and didn't even really seem to play by the rules of the universe that the author set up. I would not recommend this book to anyone. The only saving grace is that it takes roughly 15 minutes to read and has fairly appealing art.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES - I have the honor of working the author at my elementary school - YES he is fabulously talented YES - I love everything he writes/draws - he is an amazing author/illustrator - funny - real - humble and then he is also an amazing teacher - all wrapped in one kind gentle person...YES!!

[Jess Tell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with illustrations that communicate the emotional lives of children in an inviting way. Great pacing & intentional details, would be happy to read other works by this wholesome artist.

[Artie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic artwork, funny main characters and a pretty cool story concept, which is told through a little girl introducing herself to her new class after being expelled from her old school.
It starts out realistic, and then gets fantastical with a flash flood that leaves her and her brother in a boat with their dog Neptune, floating over the rooftops of their old town.
I think the underlying message is that sometimes kids need to escape school's constraints and be creative, which can be helped along by supportive parents, but I'm not sure.
I found the end displeasing. On the first day in their new school their dog Neptune rips a kid's pants and the girl pushes someone and then she and her brother run out of school again.
The closing sentiments from the girl: "I just felt kinda sad for a second. But I'm all better now. Let's go home."
It doesn't get much more ambiguous than that.
I tend to believe stories should have a more solid conclusion.
The book had promise, like so many "literary" graphic novels, but did not live up to what it could've been. Still a great visual read though.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfectly charming and beautifully drawn all-ages comic about a pair of plucky, extra-smart kids (a brother and sister) and their brand new dog, a Black Lab/Newfoundland mix named Neptune. Aron Steinke has a slightly eccentric sense of comic timing that is all his own, and his unique drawing style is immediately accessible and pleasing to the eye. Everything I've read of his thus far has been imbued with a little touch of cartoon magic.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the story is not as fantastic as Steinke's masterpiece, The Super Crazy Cat Dance, the artwork is still irresistibly charming and I am fully convinced that this guy is going to be a star someday.

[Laura-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The drawing's beautiful, and the characters are pretty great, and it's funny and vibrant. So why didn't I like it more? Couldn't tell ya. Maybe something to do with its complete lack of darkness? Maybe I'm not lighthearted enough to be the ideal reader.

[becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

got it at the Small Press Expo (SPX) with Neil

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cheery little graphic novel about two siblings and their dog. Simple, sweet, innocent and a quick read.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.