Dexter's Laboratory

Much like the cartoon, the older sibling annoys the younger

Dexter's Laboratory produced by Cartoon Network.

Plot: Dexter is an average, elementary-aged boy with a high grade point average and interest in science. He also has a large, complex laboratory, complete with supercomputers, nuclear chemicals, weapons, and killer robots. His parents remain clueless about the lab. However, his older sister, DeeDee, knows everything about the laboratory, much to her brother's chagrin. Dexter must maintain the lab's secrecy despite his sister's klutz-induced disasters.

Genre: Animation, Television, Comedy

Reading Level: I believe the show was rated TV-Y.

Similar Titles: Powerpuff Girls, Phineas and Ferb

Personal Thoughts: While I was always more of a Powerpuff Girl fan, Dexter's Laboratory set the stage for a new trend in Western animation. Cartoons began to focus on pleasing both children and adults, as some of the jokes in Dexter focus on one demographic or the other without necessarily excluding either. Like Powerpuff Girls, though, some newer viewers may find the older, rougher animation style unattractive. Still, many of the jokes remain relevant and pleasing to modern viewers.

JL8: A Webcomic

They will be giants

JL8: A Webcomic at http://jl8comic.tumblr.com/.

Plot: Everyone knows about the exploits of the Justice League. However, the team's adventures began well before its members reached adulthood. JL8: A Webcomic examines the life, trials, and times of DC's most famous characters in the third grade.

Genre: Websites, Comics

Reading Level: Due to the age of the heroes, most of the stories are pretty accessible. However, they also address common concerns of tweens, such as acceptance, popularity, and appearance, making them relevant to older readers.

Similar Titles: The Justice League

Personal Thoughts: Yale Stewart's comics are some of my favorites. They combine references to popular comics with common schoolyard concerns. The current arc, for example, focuses on familial expectations, young crushes, and concerns for others' feelings. To bring such complex concepts together, JL8 uses a highly social setting for all third graders...one of the popular girls' birthday party. The comic also utilizes classic comic styles and colors with a modern focus on expression and action. Overall, the comic, while cute, can offer a satisfactory experience for readers.

Announcement: New Project

I am beginning a new project that has absolutely nothing to do with this blog.

From now on, I will be alternating weeks between the new project and this one. The newbie is another blog, but it focuses on some of the less charismatic exhibits at zoos, aquariums, and museums. Please feel welcome to comment and explore Odd Corners. Per the plan, reviews will come next week.

Visit the site to discover the relevance of this penguin wanna-be (or wanna-was)

Powerpuff Girls

Blossom is my favorite

Powerpuff Girls produced by Cartoon Network.

Plot: Due to the acceedental inclusion of Chemical X, a blend of sugar, spice, and everything nice results in the creation of a super-cute, super-powered trio known as the Powerpufff Girls. The three girls, known as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, dedicate their powers and their lives to protect Townsville, the disaster-prone city of their creation. Overzealous fans, jealous schoolmates, supernatural forces, unreasonable chores, irate supervillains, schoolyard bullies, and bad habits threaten the town, but the Powerpuff Girls are determined to save the world before bedtime.

Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy, Television

Reading Level: Aimed at elementary ages, but much of the humor and references will appeal to older audiences.

Similar Titles: Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack

Personal Thoughts: Apparently, the show's creator intended to use the cartoon to counter the melodramatic, sickly-sweet magical girl craze of the early 1990's. However, the show quickly became a force of its own due to its creative storylines and appealing characters. The series eventually won four awards, including two Primetime Emmys. I am not certain newer viewers will appreciate it, though. True, it avoids some of the reference problems of many other older cartoons. However, the animation style seems extremely rough, especially compared to the Flash-based animation of modern cartoons. Still, if viewers look past the old-school animation style, the series remains relevant and enjoyable.

Batman Beyond

Resume! Resume!

Batman Beyond distributed by Warner Brothers.

Plot: After decades of fighting crime, Bruce Wayne can no longer act as the famous vigilante. Shortly after he retires, though, a troubled high school student sparks a series of events leading to a change. Terry Mcginnis, a former delinquent, becomes the new batman. Under the tutalage of his predecessor, Terry learns to find and fight crime, although he maintains his own personality. The mix of old methods and unjaded vision allow him to counter new threats and returning villains.

Genre: Animation, Television, Action

Reading Level: While the series avoids gore, many of the episodes address death, social issues, and loss in a manner unsuitable for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Batman the Animated Series, Superman the Animated Series

Personal Thoughts: The title, much like Batman the Animated Series, mixes character development, action, and realistic concerns to produce a highly acclaimed television show. Some of the impact came from addressing current concerns, such as genetic modification, environmental issues, rising levels of divorce, steroid usage in sports, and teen peer pressure in a futuristic setting. However, the realism also produced some very dark episodes with graphic, but not gory, results. It also had fewer "lighter" episodes than Batman the Animated Series did. As a result, the series may be inappropriate for younger viewers. Please understand viewers' sensitivities before recommending.

Math Curse

Falling ever deeper into the curse...

Scieszka, Jon and Smith, Lane. Math Curse. New York, N.Y. : Viking, 1995.

Plot: Math class was innocent enough until the teacher announced that nearly everything could be viewed as a math problem. One student, after carefully considering her statement, finds himself encased in a mathematical curse. Everything becomes a math problem. Each task, even getting dressed, becomes a series of increasingly difficult math problems. Eventually, the hex bleeds into conversations and cupcakes. Only a mind smarter than a word problem can break the terrible curse.

Genre: Picture Books, Math

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Science Verse, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Personal Thoughts: The book cleverly mixes real math anxiety with fantasy results. While some complain about the title's repetition, most sources acknowledge the book's amazing capacity to make math interesting to non-mathematical readers.

Math Curse won a number of awards, including the ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Texas Bluebonnet Award, Booklist: Editor's Choice Award, and The Horn Book Fanfare.

Sorry for the delay...

...life took me by surprise a bit this week. Not in a bad way, but in a very, very busy one. As such, there will be no reviews this week. They will, however, resume next week. Please feel welcome to contemplate this pretty flower until then.