Publisher: IDW Publishing
Writer: Joelle Sellner
Artist: Lesley Vamos
Release Date: 29th July, 2015
Having never heard of this book or the creators beforehand, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Going by the title I thought it was going to be set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland? I really don’t know why, the image just popped into my head.
What found instead was pretty much the exact opposite; a classic heart-warming tale that discusses the themes of abandonment, family and the government’s role in that mix. The story revolves around Penelope “Punky” Brewster and her dog Brandon as they try to find where they belong in the world after her mother abandons them.
At the start of the story she survives by living in shops after they have closed, teaming up with adult thieves in order to earn food. Unsurprisingly she get caught and sent to a care home. They find an estranged blood relative, Henry Warnimont, who lives nearby. Henry is an emotionally closed-off widower that runs a photography business and, due to his work and lack of experience with children, he turns down the chance to look after Punky.
The story is a fairly by-the-numbers, but it’s the characterisation that makes this a truly enjoyable read. Punky has just the right mix of old world wisdom and American-style Dennis the Menace mischief which keeps the character fun and unpredictable without her becoming grating. It also helps her to appear more emotionally intelligent than the majority of the adults in the story.
Henry’s realism and naturally downbeat attitude keeps the book grounded and adds some gravitas to the story, allowing the discussion of what a family really is. While the characters could potentially run the risk of becoming flat and one dimensional, the dialogue helps to bring them to life in a way that shows that real thought has gone into developing them. I can quite put my finger on what does this, but it’s done well.
The artwork suits the story well with its ‘after-school cartoon’ style, and helps keep the story light when dealing with the heavy subjects in the book
I would recommend this book for those who used to like Arthur the Aardvark, and those looking for a nostalgia trip without feeling like a child.
Rating: 4/5.
The writer of this piece was: David Gladman
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