Unsupervised: A Crabgrass Comics Adventure

Crabgrass #2

by Tauhid Bondia

From classroom crushes and sibling squabbles to ill-advised bike stunts and pro wrestling capers, best friends Miles and Kevin are back for more adventures in this exciting collection of Crabgrass comics by Tauhid Bondia.

Appearing in hundreds of newspapers across the United States and with an enthusiastic online following, Tauhid Bondia’s daily comic “Crabgrass” has become an instant classic. This collection includes the highly entertaining escapades of best friends Kevin and Miles, whose curiosity and sense of mischief will be relatable to today’s kids while reminding adults of their own childhood misadventures. Join the pair as they navigate school crushes, sibling rivalries, snowball fights, and a whole series of questionable decisions that make for a hilarious and heartwarming reading experience.

Crabgrass explores the same youthful themes of friendship and adventure as Calvin and Hobbes , and the humor, warmth, and innocence will appeal to readers of bestselling middle grade series like Phoebe and Her Unicorn and Big Nate .
 

Genres: Humor, Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels Comics, Childrens

191 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Tim Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part was pretty drab, and the few good strips looked like Calvin and Hobbes rip-offs. But the wrestling story in the second half was much better. Brock Bronson rules!

[Jennyfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the Crabgrass comics before, but this one was a delight to read! Besties Miles and Kevin get up to all sorts of hijinks as only 9yo boys can, from class projects to wrestling, to bad ideas to having each other's backs. There are poignant moments, laugh out loud moments, and plenty of in-house for the adults.

With shades of Calvin and Hobbes, a little bit Foxtrot, and a whole lot of unique style, Unsupervised: A Crabgrass Comics Adventure is a whole.lot of fun.

~ Many thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~

[K Lizardwizard]

super funny !!!


kierin-age 10

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsupervised is the second book in the Crabgrass Comic Adventures series, a comic strip that is set in the fictional town of Crabgrass Drive. In the first book Miles and his family had just moved into Kevin's neighborhood and the two boys quickly became close friends. The stories exemplify all the fun and excitement of growing up, the antics of having too much time on your hands during summer vacation and the ability to explore unfettered and cause mischief. The first book was filled with moments like the blow-up swimming pools, Saturday morning cartoons, ice-cream trucks and even the iconic atomic ball challenge. Reading it was like taking a trip down memory lane with your best friend and recalling all the fond times you shared. Needless to say, I was super excited to see the newest book was available on Edelweiss+ and jumped at the chance to read it.

Unsupervised introduces a girl into the mix, Carla, who is supposed to just be Mile's project partner. Kevin becomes slightly jealous, until he realizes that he can come between their relationship by revealing all of Miles most embarrassing moments. The story covers everything from first crushes, arguments, to even drinking your first cup of coffee. There are squabbles between sibling's and even a few daring bike stunts. The boys try to sneak their way into seeing Chainsaw Cabin #3 and even have a visit to the principal's office after Miles gives Kevin a tattoo. There's one heavier moment, when Kevin's dad flakes on taking him to Pro Wrestling Frenzy, but turns happier when Miles dad offers to fill in. Lots of questionable decisions and mischief without mayhem, but plenty of heart and humor. Laugh out loud moments like Kevin referring to Miles wearing pajamas as "fancy pants." And even Mile's mom telling him to apologize and to "be sincere like we practiced." My favorite panels were the ones that have the punchline, so to speak at the end. For example, the one with Kevin's mom first sensing smoke, then using the fire extinguisher, then pushing the boys out the front door, with the boys then sitting on the stoop and Kevin saying, "if canned corn doesn't pop, it should really say so on the label." Just laugh out loud fun and events that you can easily relate to. I love the imagination of these two boys and the expressions and dialogue are so spot on. The art style is reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes and is so engaging. The characters are relatable to both, and adults and children and the story begs to be re-read over and over. There aren't nearly enough books that include boy friendships, and this is a fabulous addition. Defiantly entertaining and I highly recommend it for fans of Big Nate and Calvin and Hobbes. **Digital Review Copy from Edelweiss+**

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kevin and Miles are best friends even though they are very different. Miles is in the gifted program with Mr. Wienersmith and has two very overprotective parents who are a truck driver and substitute teacher. Kevin makes ill considered decisions and wears a white tank top no matter what the weather is, and is being raised with an older brother, twin sister, and baby sibling by his single mother, who works as a nurse and frequently needs to come to school to deal with his behavior problems. This is only the second volume in the Crabgrass Comic Adventures and I'd be more than happy to see Mr. Bondia adapt his characters into Big Nate style chapter books! We see Miles working on a project about clouds with a classmate, Carla, whom he rather likes; Kevin having Miles draw a tattoo on him, which he proudly shows off at school while wearing no shirt all day (!), and the boys having an adventure at a pro wrestling event for which Kevin's father buys tickets but then can't take them, so Miles' father steps in.

My local paper replaced a recently disgraced comic that shall not be named with Crabgrass, so I've been able to read the daily adventures of these engaging characters. My ony concern about it is that Kevin, with his tank top, often comes perilously close to some stereotypes about a certain type of lower income family for which there is no longer a name, but which is part of my cultural identity. I hope Mr. Bondia manages to stay on top of trends and not run into any problems!

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready for a departure from themes of bullying, abuse, abandonment, disease… In thus book entitled, Unsupervised, the panels and dialogue causes laugh out loud response. I loved these two guys, their friendship, insecurities, innocence, and loyalty.

This is like a year of comic strips bound in a book based on best friends Kevin, white and Miles, black. Their look at the world is so real as viewed through nine year old faith and logic . For example, they decide to build a snowman, not deterred because it’s too late in the season and the only thing left on the ground is snud. After their hard work, readers view the final product, a grotesque snowman with a word balloon hanging over its head: “BRAAAIINS.”

You’ll have an added appreciation for the sequence in which the two boys go to a Mega Wrestling Frenzy match, if You know anything about World Wide Wrestling. Here they meet the “stars” in and out of the elaborate costumes.

The parents are pretty cool dealing with the antics of young boys and as all of us they don’t get everything right. I like the wisdom when mom complains about grounding Miles for “accidentally” drawing a dragon tattoo on Kevin’s chest in permanent marker. Dad is headed out to hit golf balls and she says he can’t go. Why? Because they have to stay home and make sure Mikes doesn’t watch Tv, go outside, or eat sweets. Then it dawns upon her that she spends more time grounded as an adult than when she was a kid!

Calvin and Hobbes meets The Diary of a Wimpy kid. The funnies abound!

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, looking back and seeing how I declared the first book in this series a little too close to Big Nate, I have to admit either my judgement was off that day or this upped the ante. It certainly felt more its own thing, with the balance of the two kids at the core of it all adding a very non-Nate dynamic to the school years yucks. The parents are getting to be rounded out characters, too, and the quips a touch more adult in their archness and their general style. I don't like the way the extended stories get interrupted by the weekend edition's bigger page – this shouldn't think it needs to archive everything in the exact order in which it went to press – but when we get stories of broken promises of wrestling tickets, a permanent marker "tattoo" or a father's impressive magic trick, the book is well worth spending time with. A strong four stars.

[Antoniette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The format of this book reminded me of the old comedy sketch shows, like Laugh In and You Can't Do That On Television... yes, I know I'm aging myself. The longer vignettes have quickie comics placed in the middle of them which breaks them up, kind of like a commercial break would. For me, this took a little getting used to, but once I got used to it I thought it was well thought out and very cleverly done. I think kids today will be fine with that format because they're so used to ads sporadically breaking up the things they watch nowadays. In fact, it may help build up their working memory. Overall, this was an entertaining read that both kids and adults will get a kick out of.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this comic strip which centers around two best buds, and their wacky families. There are two great longer story arcs in this book - the permanent marker tattoo, and the Mega Wrestling Frenzy adventure - which are worth the price of admission alone, but the every day antics of Miles and Kevin are also not to be missed. Hope this strip goes on forever.


Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for sharing this.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comic Volume
I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through Edelweiss+.
Hilarious antics for Kevin and Milo continue in Volume 2. Readers see them meet a professional wrestler, attempt magic. deal with friendship issues and problems at school, and generally have a wonderful time being kids. The artwork is great to study as Bondia captures the nuances of his characters in every setting. I appreciate the sensitivity under the humor when dealing with Kevin's deadbeat dad. Always a joy to enter the Crabgrass world.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as silly and goofy as this whole series is, I love the moments of pure wholesomeness between Kevin and Miles and occasionally between them and their respective parents. The last story arc was just a joy between Miles' dad agreeing to take them to the wrestling show and then the final page was beautiful. I love these two kids, I hope this ends up being a long running series.

Copy provided by Edelweiss and the publisher.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 bk 158. The second book is as good as, if not stronger than the first book in the series. We continue to follow our 2 young men as they exhibit all of the signs of kids on the cusp of teenage hood. Along the we we see their relationship grow after a disagreement, a father step up to help fill in the father who is no longer doing what is right, and how two families become more than neighbors but one family.

[Jenna Stensland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure who laughed more, me or my son. This book is hilarious. They remind me of the best of the Sunday comics. He was on the young end of the recommended age range at 8 but there were plenty of laughs to be had even though a few jokes went over his head. The perfect graphic novel to read with you kid and laugh together.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of comics in this book. It followed two best friends on lots of different adventures. They meet different people along the way.

This was fun to read. It had action and adventure throughout. It had quite a bit of giggles throughout. The illustrations were well done and were colorful.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about 9-year-olds who can muse on the state of school, family, friendships, and wrestling! This author clearly remembers what it is like to be a kid. Kudos to the long-suffering parents and teachers in the comic strip, especially the ones who step in the soften the blow for their son's friend, who has a parent who regularly makes plans that he refuses to show up for.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up on the strips that came out before I started reading it. Great fun. The reason for 4 stars, rather than five, is that the strips about the father was less fun than the ones with the kids. They are great.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonida’s series is such fun. Miles and a Kevin are wonderfully realized. Gene’s a great dad.

ARC from NetGalley.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Crabgrass books and I hope they publish more. Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes. Clever and sarcastic and funny.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these two and their crazy schemes!

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Richard Joya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about childhood shennanigans before smartphones.