The Last Comics on Earth

Gr 3-7–Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk of Brallier’s ongoing hybrid graphic-prose series “The Last Kids on Earth” (Netflix-adapted, with the ninth installment publishing this fall) get a symbiotic graphic spin-off here—because they need to make their own comic(al) series. They’ve just realized they’ve thoroughly, unbearably, run out of issues starring their favorite superhero, Z-Man: Protector of Apocalyptia. But wait! “We’ll write the next issue of the series,” June declares. They’ll create their very own superheroes to save Z-Man, last left on a cliff-hanger. Quint becomes Super Inventorist Dude Doc Baker; June is Moonstar, the Quasar Warrior (and her dog sidekick, Meepu, too!); Dirk is Savage Aloner; and Jack is Boy Lightning (who already has official merch to sell). Uhh, but what about Z-Man? Daymond’s unflagging energy is admirable, but with such a vast cast, his solo show doesn’t quite embody every character evenly—or affectingly. Without the one-color/full-color delineations (real time versus the quartet’s brave new worlds, respectively) provided on the page, audiences might struggle to distinguish who’s who and what’s what.