Monkey vs. Robot and the Crystal of Power
June 8th, 2003by James Kochalka
ISBN: 1891830368
More monkeys, more robots, more violence: this has got just about everything Kochalka fans could want in a sequel. (The original book was Monkey vs. Robot.)
The format is the same square-bound book Kochalka uses to good effect. This time around, the story is printed in purple ink on white paper. The monkeys seem to be a bit more clever this time, the robots more bloodthirsty and organized. Kochalka’s artwork is what you would expect: clean, bold lines, with a strong sense of energy and motion.
And the monkeys really are cute. The robots evoke a 1970s-era kind of look. I always root for the monkeys, so Kochalka’s ending is more ambiguous that I would necessarily choose. That isn’t a bad thing; it is a more honest thing.
Highly recommended for Kochalka fans; if you aren’t a Kochalka fan yet or are new to graphic novels, this book is worth a look to see what the fuss is all about.
