Review: Rude, Crude, and Punny... The next step up for CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS Fans
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 18, 2014
Having two brothers 24 years younger than me, I was witness to their CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS craze.  These rude, crude and "punny" graphic novels were a HUGE hit for the 8+ age market, and Ian Probert has crafted a Young Reader's Book in that same, highly successful theme.  Fully steeped in British mannerisms, culture, and iconic figures, JOHNNY NOTHING had me laughing out loud straight from the Prologue.  The story uses a close narrative style, very often taking the traditional wall between reader and story and breaking it (then grinding, finally scattering the dust to the five winds*) in a manner that will gleefully make boys chortle like ribald pirates bathing in jellie dubloons.  (*North Wind, South Wind, East Wind, West Wind, and Body Wind.)For those of us "across the pond" in America, Probert does give an endnoted cultural lexicon, albeit not quite as comprehensive as it should be to really reach young American readers.  There is an excellent opportunity here for Probert to add more to JOHNNY NOTHING by wittily (and of course,  irreverently) expounding on other cultural references,  such as "council flat", various foods, what it means when the bailiff comes round, and perhaps even France (admittedly hundreds of years of cumulative research have not been very successful on that point).  Being myself steeped in British culture like a week old Tetley tea bag left in a dried smudge of brown sauce, even I had to scratch my head over a few referenced people (who, thankfully were mentioned in the endnotes... and no, the Beatles weren't one of the puzzlers).  Finally, the illustration style is eye-catching in an oddly but truly fascinating manner, one I have never seen before.If you are looking for a Young Reader's Book filled to the brim with jolly, rude, crude, and very punny humor in the same popular vein as other market niche authors, come get a real council flat dose of JOHNNY NOTHING and his literal rise from rags to rags sorta with riches to no rags with riches to giving riches to rags while not wearing rags to no rags, no riches to finally ... a coming 2nd Volume!----I received a free copy of the aforementioned book in exchange for a candid review. I have no genre bias, having always been extremely eclectic in reading tastes, and critically consider when applicable (in order of weight) titular promises vs content deliverance, stylistic qualities, general Kindle/physical formatting, and personal enjoyment.