• Comics

by LargeMarge67 on 02.14.12

Peter Pan. An iconic character whose story has been revisited so many times that it would seem all possible approaches have been exhausted. Personally, I have grown weary of him although I will revisit the Disney film on occasion just for nostalgia’s sake. There is no question that the story has value, as it explores the themes of good vs. evil, loss of innocence and challenging authority, but does anyone really want to see more of the same? I certainly don’t and I hope you would agree that enough is enough! Am I right? Of course I am…not. Usually when I am wrong about something I soon discover that I was mistaken but, in the case of Peter Panzerfaust, I was unequivocally incorrect. Set in Calais, France during World War II, the book follows a group of boys whose lives have been dismantled by the German invasion. An interesting device is used to kick off the story, as an elderly man named Tootles (his “Lost Boys” nickname) conveys his experiences to a reporter.

Tootles explains how he and a tight-knit group of orphans were isolated, unarmed and frightened and just when they thought that all hope was lost, a savior of sorts arrived on the scene…

Although the story is firmly grounded in reality, there is a definite fantasy element involved and while there is no Tinker Bell (yet?), Peter does fly…sort of. To escape the pursuing Nazis, the boys must leap across the space between two buildings, which seems suicidal to everyone but Peter.

Those panels are some of my favorites but there are many others that move the narrative briskly forward and continually elevate the stakes involved. The artwork is amazing and the use of empty space reminded me of the fantastic work in The Last of the Greats.

Peter Panzerfaust is action-packed and fast-paced, so much so that I must lodge a complaint. I read the digital version of this book and got so wrapped up in it that when I reached page 23 I became enraged and screamed, “Noooooooo! It can’t be over! I WANT MORE!” (Actually that only happened in my head and was followed by heavy sobbing…also in my head...)

With so many titles to choose from these days, it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chafe and I am very particular about what I choose to read. I scope out comic cons, read creator interviews and do research in order to narrow down my choices to those with the most potential. Peter Panzerfaust fulfills its potential and exceeded my expectations, which is always a pleasant surprise. So, don’t just sit there, find your “happy thought”, fly over to your local comic shop and grab a copy of this amazing book. If you’re more into the digital thing that’s your prerogative but I warn you…damn…I’m sobbing in my head again…hmmm…where did I put that damn happy thought? Never mind…