Review: PAWS 'Gabby Gets it Together' and 'Mindy Makes Some Space'
How about some middle grade stories of young girls navigating their first business, friendship, family and a fountainess fondness for animals in cartoony comic book art that's as fun as the adventures depicted? Then treat someone special or save up your pocket money for a walk through Paws by Michele Assarasakorn and Nathan Fairbairn.
Michele Assarasakorn is a Taiwanese-born, Canadian art-educated illustrator and colourist. Paws was her debut as an illustrator, though you'd never think so. She has had multiple top gigs colouring books for the likes of DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Skybound and Glenat. Nathan Fairbairn is a comic creator best known for bringing colour to Scott Pilgrim and his work on Wonder Woman: Earth One. He has also worked for Marvel, Image, Dark Horse and Oni, to name a few. Short introduction to massive talents, we can jump into the review.
So, let's start with the art. Michele Assarasakorn makes an illustrative debut on Paws, which is a pretty ridiculous idea to accept. The opening pages of Gabby Gets It Together show Michele tackling a hectic moment for the titular character and five dogs, and to manage and convey so much character and emotion in these lovable fluffs is pretty marvellous. There are five pages of exemplary cartooning comic book creativity.
For this story and target audience, the arts absolutely enticing - it will delight all that read. The standard of art here is really high. It's a cartoon style with a meticulous edge of technical skill. It is hard to pick out standout pieces when this much of the art is presented so well, but my particular admiration would go for the ability to make all the animals have so much character.
It's interesting to see as well that it's not until you compare the two books side by side that you could even guess one was a debut. This is only because the art of "Mindy Makes Some Space" just has an extra level to it. A honing in of character design and a confidence to push some elements with creative style that really seeps out of the pages. I probably couldn't be much further from the target audience of this one, but with art this good, it's hard not to be impressed and impossible not to enjoy the journey.
The colouring, of course, is exemplary with bright realism brought to the world and really strong lettering work to add the cherry to the rainbow sprinkled raspberry ripple screwball delight that is the art of Paws.
On to the story then, and it's of course pure wholesome adventure. Jeopardy comes in its mildest forms, although the emotional stakes are raised as far as loss of friendship and feelings of isolation.
The navigation of relationships features heavily across the first two books, wrapped around the central premise of girls that, although very unique individuals, are bonded by a deep love and obsession for animals. This shared love leads the trio to form a dog walking business, the titular Paws or Pretty Awesome Walkers - a cracking name.
The characters on offer here are full of interesting characteristics and family dynamics to hook and relate readers, and have you fully invested in their exploits. The life lessons on offer are delivered in an entertaining fashion to be valuable but not over-challenging. It's a finely walked line to provide all this, and Paws is judged with precision. The middle grade audience will have plenty to unpack but plenty of fun doing so, while all will be enamoured by its charms.
For fans of fun, friendship, Canis Lupus Familiaris, felines, navigating childhood, navigating relationships, look if you're the parent or guardian aunt or uncle of a young animal lover or comic book fan and want a story of girls handling life you'll do really well to introduce them to this and be able to enjoy it with them, with art that will delight without doubt. Paws is an awesome option.
To get your copy, the best place I can send you is here. Fans will be delighted to find the series is up to book four now (books three and four are available to pre-order), with five in the works, so there is plenty to enjoy and enough to get caught up with.
Review: 4/5
