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.

Dragon Ball Z

Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Z (Vol 1).San Francisco : Viz Comics, 2002.

Plot: Following the events of Dragon Ball, Goku reunites with his friends and teacher. Much to their surprise, the young man arrives with his son, the four-year-old Gohan. The meeting is cut short by the arrival of an aggressive, flying foe. The man claims to be Goku's older brother, and alerts his younger brother of his mission to destroy all life on Earth. To force Goku to participate, the stranger kidnaps his son and hold him for a ransom of one hundred dead humans. Furious at the alien's demands and determined to rescue his son, Goku finds an unlikely ally. The two manage to defeat the foe, but two more, stronger, opponents promise to come in a year's time...

Genre: Manga, Graphic Novels, Adventure, Science Fiction

Reading Level: Rated Teen for violence and sexual innuendo

Similar Titles: Lum, Naruto, One Piece 

Personal Titles: The novel is one of the most famous manga worldwide. It, as well as its sequels and prequel, instigated a number of movies, video games, and television shows and led to the recognition of manga as a genre. That said, it does not age particularly well, in my opinion. The plot seems much slower than it needs to be due to the frequent action sequences, which seem to distract from the story rather than add to it. The characters are broad stereotypes, such as the determined fighter, arrogant prince, smart but flakey girl, and goofball friend. Some critics also argue it becomes too formulaic, particularly in its later volumes.

It should be noted the original translation was aimed at adults, not tweens. As such, some of the imagery and humor is not intended for younger audiences, so use caution before recommending the novels.

Side Note: Dreamworks dragon disapproves of lack of dragons in Dragon Ball.

The Three Musketeers (1993)

The Three Musketeers produced by Disney (1993).

Plot: While the movie makes a reasonable attempt to follow the very good plot by Dumas, it varies. Milady de Winter is a more pitiable victim of the system than evil seductress. Porthos is a world-traveling pirate. The Cardinal remains the antagonist, but slips into deliberate megalomania. Also, the Louis looks like a girl, but he and his older wife love and trust each other anyway. The resulting movie is questionable.

Genre: Action, Three Musketeers, Movie

Reading Level: Rated PG

Similar Titles: Zorro, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Count of Monte Cristo

Personal Thoughts: The movie is one of those that did overwhelmingly good in the theater but, years later, makes viewers question why they liked it. Once the hype dies down, the merits of the movie have the opportunity to come into focus and, unfortunately, this movie's merits are questionable. To be fair, the cast choice seems mostly reasonable and the music is inspiring. However, the changes from the novel do not add to the story, like a good movie manages. Instead, they trivialize it.

Two particular character changes especially shatter the dimentions offered by a more conventional following of the novel: Milady de Winter and King Louis. The choice to cast King Louis as a feminine man is desquiting. Granted, in the novel he proves he acts more like a boy than a proper king, but why make him so effiminate? It just distracts from the plot and makes the audience cringe instead of feeling sorry for the kid. The second, and more damaging change comes from the change in Milady de Winter. While making a sympathetic villainess is typical for the 90's, it does not serve the movie well. In the novel, de Winter is evil, and really, really good at it. Like the best villains, such as Voldemort, Cruela De Vil, The Joker, and Moriarty, she is a complete pleasure to hate. Readers observe her with morbid fascination as she schemes, succeeds, and succumbs throughout the novel. Yet, in the movie, she flops, figuratively and literally. While she plans on performing infamous acts, the audience is told, rather than shown, what she is capable of. When her history with Athos is revealed, she becomes overly sympathetic. She then promptly jumps off a cliff. So besides making Athos out to be a jerk, her overall influence in the movie is poor. As a result, the villain torch passes to the Cardinal, who proves to be an unlikeable and only moderately convincing antagonist.

Movies can and, occasionally, should vary from the source material. However, when variety comes merely for the sake of change rather than enhancing the audience's experience, it makes the plot, characters, and themes of the movie fall flat (no pun intended).

The Three Musketeers

Dumas, Alexander. The Three Musketeers. New York : Dodd, Mead, 1941.


Plot: Young D'Artagnan's initial attempts to begin a career a musketeer start...poorly. An unknown assailant steals his letter of recommendation and the youngster inadvertently challenges three established musketeers to a duel. However, the courage and manners offered by the young man impress the three, who are, in fact, close friends. They become more impressed when he joins them against the meddling officers of the Cardinal. While D'Artagnan establishes himself as a forth member of the former trio, his actions gain the attention of several important people, setting off a chain of events leading to the Queen of France herself.

Genre: Three Musketeers, Historical Fiction, Action

Reading Level: I read this for the first time when I was in Middle School. However, when I read it more recently, the scenarios and historical references made much more sense. So, while younger readers can read the book, more experienced users will gain more from the story.

Similar Titles: The Man in the Iron Mask, The Scarlett Pimpernel, Zorro

Personal Thoughts: As previously mentioned, I gained more from the novel as an adult. However, I still liked it as a pre-teen, even if some of the allusions, situations, and history were beyond my complete comprehension at the time.

Recently, I discovered the novel is actually the first of a trilogy written by Dumas. While none of the other two really gained fame in the modern age, the sequel to the series, The Man in the Iron Mask, spawned nearly as many renditions as its predecessor.

Indiana Jones Omnibus: Volume 1

Richardson, Mike. Indiana Jones Omnibus: Volume 1. Milwaukie, OR : Dark Horse Books, 2008.

Plot: World-renowned archaeologist Indiana Jones travels the world in search of treasure and trouble in the first three stories of the omnibus. As he seeks his quarry, he discovers action and supernatural artifacts. His journeys inevitably bring him in contact with World War II superpowers, crooked leaders, deadly hitman, and, unfailingly, femme fatales. 

Genre: Comics, Graphic Novel

Reading Level: Aimed at teens, but younger and older readers may enjoy it, too.

Similar Titles: Star Wars Omnibus, Indiana Jones movies

Personal Thoughts: The book is good, but not remarkable. Most of the stories are exciting, but predictable. The graphics echo the stylized realism typical of superhero comics in a manner which displays the story, but not in an exceptional way. The plots seem slightly rushed and the characters, with the exception of Jones, suffered from underdevelopment. Still the humor and dialog remineces the movies quite effectively. Overall, the book is good, but has room for improvement.

As a side note, it bugs me a bit when an omnibus has multiple volumes. I'm not sure why.