Explorer: The Mystery Boxes / edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Monday, 25 June 2012 14:29

I’m beginning to believe that Kazu Kibuishi is a wizard. No other explanation really holds up in the face of the incredible work he’s done: the gorgeous and fanciful Copper webcomic; his excellent Amulet series; and his work as curator/creator for the Flight anthologies. Kibuishi has tapped into a deep well of sequential art mojo, and by all appearances, it doesn’t look like it will run dry any time soon – especially with the release of Explorer: The Mystery Boxes.

Manning the helm as editor of this collection, Kibuishi issued a fairly simple request to his fellow comic creators: tell a story about a mysterious box. From that basic premise came seven stories that range from the unnerving to the warm-hearted, but all answer the question... “what’s in the box?” Emily Carroll’s short comic “Under the Floorboards” starts the collection off with a deliciously creepy tale about a young girl who gets more than she bargained for when she excavates a box containing a wax doll. Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier’s “Spring Cleaning” moves things back towards light-hearted adventure with their story about old junk, wizards and long lost love. “The Keeper’s Treasure” looks at the true meaning of wealth while “The Butter Thief” shows that there is more to family superstitions than meets the eye. Both Kazu Kibuishi’s and Stuart Livingston’s stories see the mystery box as the means for gaining insight on deeper truths, but Johane Matte’s “Whatzit” uses it to create slapstick in outer space.

While the stories are geared towards younger readers, this is great collection for any comic lover. And if you haven't experienced Kibuishi's wizardry yet, Explorer: The Mystery Boxes is a perfect invitation to his other work. (Dan, The Loft)

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