annakim's review
4.0
This is the start of a great series. I recommend this for anyone looking for a good graphic novel kids who are in upper elementary to middle school. From what I can tell of this book and the second in the series, Schweizer embeds different character lessons, but he does so without being preachy. The stories are action-packed, but full of depth and each character is rounded out nicely.
giantarms's review
4.0
It starts a little moralistic, but quickly gets past then an on to an gripping adventure on the high seas. Crogan is a young sailor who's persecuted for his family history by an insane round-head captain. Soon, their ship is attacked by pirates and Crogan makes some decisions that save himself and the crew, but have troubling implications further along the story. There are lessons to be learned here, but they aren't simple or sugary. People get hurt and people are killed. These are pirates, not priests. Overall, a story I took a chance on and was pleased with the results.
Allegedly, this is only the first in a series of Crogan books to come. If the pictures on the flypapers of Crogan and his descendants are any indication, we should be in for some excellent adventures.
Allegedly, this is only the first in a series of Crogan books to come. If the pictures on the flypapers of Crogan and his descendants are any indication, we should be in for some excellent adventures.
olde_fortran's review
3.0
Wonderfully cartoony art, but the plot didn't quite grab me. I'll stick around for at least one more volume though, I think the Crogan clan connections may make the difference.
kailey_luminouslibro's review
5.0
Swashbuckling action on ships in the 1700s Carribean, evil pirates, and some good pirates with ambiguous moral choices, a lightfooted hero, and a few sharks and storms at sea... this book has everything you need in a graphic novel about pirate adventure!
Crogan, a simple sailor with a good heart, is pressed into a pirate gang and has to keep his wits about him to stay on the winning side when pirates turn against each other.
I love the artwork (very comic style), and the action, but the characters and plot are what really pull this story forward.
Crogan is a wonderful character, because he is not the "perfect" hero, but has his own moral code of goodness and justice that he relies on to give him direction in some very sticky situations where right and wrong blend into gray. When you're dealing with pirates, who have their own laws and sense of fairness, the hero has some difficult choices to make, but Crogan is tough enough to handle anything they throw at him.
The plot rolls along with barely a stop, and every circumstance flows into the next with beautiful harmony, weaving a story of betrayal, murder, plunder, and ultimately "vengeance". But it's all clean pirate fun, so this book would be great for kids!
Crogan, a simple sailor with a good heart, is pressed into a pirate gang and has to keep his wits about him to stay on the winning side when pirates turn against each other.
I love the artwork (very comic style), and the action, but the characters and plot are what really pull this story forward.
Crogan is a wonderful character, because he is not the "perfect" hero, but has his own moral code of goodness and justice that he relies on to give him direction in some very sticky situations where right and wrong blend into gray. When you're dealing with pirates, who have their own laws and sense of fairness, the hero has some difficult choices to make, but Crogan is tough enough to handle anything they throw at him.
The plot rolls along with barely a stop, and every circumstance flows into the next with beautiful harmony, weaving a story of betrayal, murder, plunder, and ultimately "vengeance". But it's all clean pirate fun, so this book would be great for kids!
pussreboots's review
2.0
Crogan's Vengeance by Chris Schweizer is the first of a planned sixteen volume graphic novel series that covers the adventures of the Crogan family through three centuries. This volume was short listed for the graphics novel category for the 2009 Cybils. I read it as a panel judge.
At first I was excited to jump into the book. It's a nice hard cover with an obvious pirate theme as shown by the artwork on the cover. Although the series is aimed at boys, I grew up reading pirate stories, watching pirate films and even researching pirates. So no, I wasn't expecting parrots on the shoulders.
My excitement though quickly vanished when I saw the framing story. The youngest Crogan has gotten into trouble at school and dear old dad has decided to use the situation as a teachable moment (gag). He tells his son about Catfoot Crogan, the unwilling pirate who maintained his honor in the face of temptation. Let's just do away with the humans and stick the Veggie Tales characters on board because that's what Crogan's Vengeance is most like.
Without a compelling story to keep me going, I was left with the goofy artwork. Except as a Sunday school comic it doesn't work. Since though this book (and maybe the whole series?) is heavy on the morals, I suppose the artwork is appropriate.
I showed the book briefly to my son who is technically younger than the intended age group but he's reading through older books such as the Percy Jackson series so I wanted his honest opinion. He politely read a couple pages and handed it back to me telling me he wasn't interested.
I reviewed the book for the Cybils but I bought the copy I read.
At first I was excited to jump into the book. It's a nice hard cover with an obvious pirate theme as shown by the artwork on the cover. Although the series is aimed at boys, I grew up reading pirate stories, watching pirate films and even researching pirates. So no, I wasn't expecting parrots on the shoulders.
My excitement though quickly vanished when I saw the framing story. The youngest Crogan has gotten into trouble at school and dear old dad has decided to use the situation as a teachable moment (gag). He tells his son about Catfoot Crogan, the unwilling pirate who maintained his honor in the face of temptation. Let's just do away with the humans and stick the Veggie Tales characters on board because that's what Crogan's Vengeance is most like.
Without a compelling story to keep me going, I was left with the goofy artwork. Except as a Sunday school comic it doesn't work. Since though this book (and maybe the whole series?) is heavy on the morals, I suppose the artwork is appropriate.
I showed the book briefly to my son who is technically younger than the intended age group but he's reading through older books such as the Percy Jackson series so I wanted his honest opinion. He politely read a couple pages and handed it back to me telling me he wasn't interested.
I reviewed the book for the Cybils but I bought the copy I read.
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