The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by Kirk Scroggs ~ BookishRealm

Series: N/A
# of Pages: 160
Publication: October 1st, 2019
Source: ARC
Genre: Middle Grade Comic
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Anyone caught reading this notebook without my permission will be tossed in the bayou with a rabid snapping turtle! Seriously, I mean it! My name is Russell Weinwright and if you think you've got problems in middle school, try being a half kid, half algae swamp creature who's terrible at sports! It's not easy. I eat sunlight for lunch, I've got duck weed for hair, and I think a frog might be living in my tree trunk arm. I'm literally pond scum! Some kids call me Swamp Kid, but my best friends Charlotte and Preston keep me sane. I wish I could let you read this notebook to get the real scoop on being an eighth-grade outsider (please ignore the doodles and ketchup stains!), but things have gotten a little crazy lately. Men in black are spying on me, my science teacher might be an evil mastermind, and a hulking beast in the bayou may or may not be my super swamp mentor. Believe me, you don't wanna know! Turn back now! This is The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by writer and illustrator Kirk Scroggs, and you'll never look at middle school the same way again.

Told in the same manner as middle grade books such as Diary of A Wimpy Kid, The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by Kirk Scroggs is another venture by DC Zoom to make comics more accessible to children and middle grade readers. This beautifully crafted graphic novel delves into the every day life of Russell Weinwright who is apparently half kid and half algae swamp creature. Aspiring to be a comic book writer/illustrator, Russell begins documenting his life and the adventures that he shares with two classmates/friends Charlotte and Preston. What starts off as a "slice of life" narrative, quickly turns into a plot filled with adventure and intrigue.

"That's me. Russell Weinwright. Handsome, huh? I've come to realize I possess what fashion blogs call the Wet Algae look."

What makes this graphic novel both dynamic and fun is its ability to create an intriguing plot with new and sometimes recognizable characters. As an adult, it can be difficult to relate to characters of a younger audience; however, Scroggs, skillfully builds his characters to be reminiscent of experiences all readers have had as middle school children: the inability to always fit in, the importance of friendship, etc. In doing this, Scroggs made this graphic novel accessible for all readers even though the significance of its publication for a younger audience is clear. In addition to character development, Scroggs created a plot that included action, adventure, and intrigue. It allows for the reader to become fully engrossed in not only getting to know Russell as a character, but also more about the mystery surrounding his birth. While it is imperative to not delve into the plot for the sake of spoilers, there is a major DC character that makes an appearance within this graphic novel and adds to the overall amazing qualities of the plot.

"Today I decided to eat my lunch outside. It's something I do a lot, mainly to escape the stench of the lunchroom, the endless stares from my classmates, the bullies trying to ready my spiral without my authorization, and, oh yeah...I eat sunlight."

In addition to astounding characters and plot development, Scroggs did an amazing job with the art development. The artwork varied in style and color palette and truly added to the story telling that was being done with the written text. It's beauty is quite hard to describe, but it is unlike artwork that you would typically find in a children/middle grade graphic novel. What is even more amazing is that the art design and color palettes chosen all fall within the context of the book. Artwork styles are based on Russell's passion for creating his own comic book and color palettes varied based on his feelings in the moment of creating that artwork. In all, Scroggs skillfully avoided making the artwork feel as though it was a separate entity from the text.