“Wow, that was fun.” That’s exactly what I thought when I put down TOMMYSAURUS REX, the new graphic novel by Doug TenNapel. It’s a well-paced, easily accessible boyhood adventure with a feel good attitude that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Ely is trying to cope with the death of his best friend in the whole wide world, Tommy, a golden retriever. His father sends him off to spend the summer working on the farm with his grandfather. After a wonderful setup that sets the tone for this fun adventure, TenNapel turns up the pace once the boy hits the farm. Ely’s grandfather is an eccentric old man who creates a perfect balance for the wild imagination and excitement of the boy.
When Ely stumbles onto a cave and the Tyranysaurus Rex hiding inside, his life takes some interesting turns. But not only are there the expected adventures and misadventures of a boy and his dinosaur, which create the good-natured humor of the book, there’s also an underlying message. As the two become friends, they show the town that appearances can be deceiving, and they teach each other the values of friendship.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a boy’s adventure without a few fart and poop jokes, which TenNapel handles perfectly. As a matter of fact, all of the juvenile tendencies are shown with a kind of reverence to a boy’s nature, so they not only feel right, but they’re completely hilarious for their crude humor. On top of that, TenNapel’s art, which perfectly represents every character’s emotions, captures the very essence of what it means to be a young boy without being hampered by too much realism. It has a sort of chaotic feel that fits perfectly with the nature of the story.
This simple story is on par with others of its kind, such as the wonderful films E.T. and THE IRON GIANT. The boy’s journey is filled with humor, both crude and subtle, and plenty of heart-warming emotion along the way. It’ll be a real shame if this book is ignored by the comics world.
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