TenNapel, D. (2005). Earthboy Jacobus. Berkeley, CA: Image Comics.

ISBN: 1582404925

After hitting a flying whale with his car, Chief Edwards finds a young boy from an alternate universe, and together they fight the evil ectoids for their freedom.

Media Used:    Pen and Ink

Rating:     4Q/5P

Format:    Graphic Novel

Theme: Hope and home are important themes in Earthboy Jacobus.  The ectoids appear to be an unstoppable force who corrupt everything they can get their hands on.  Jacobus was forced to flee from his own world (and his mother) in order to escape their clutches, but despite the constant threat of monster invasions, Chief Edwards opens his home to Jacobus and teaches him how to fight and defend himself.  Although they are constantly hunted and home after home gets destroyed, neither Jacobus or the Chief give up, and together they fight to keep their small family together.  It is only when Jacobus is stranded in the ectoid universe and is informed that his adopted father is dead that he gives up trying to defeat the ectoids.  He grows into a man who lives for the next bottle and combats against the ectoids only when they hunt him down.  He thinks dearly of the chief, but little more then revenge is on his mind.  When the two of them are reunited after years, however, both men find a new inner strength.  The need for their family to live in peace fuels them to fight an unbeatable foe, and they make their last stand together as father and son.

Submitted by Amanda Melilli 4/20/08