Varmints by Andy Hirsch

Varmints Reviews

• 
  Nancy Kotkin

  Story: 3 stars
  Art: 3 stars
  
  Children's full-color graphic novel. Two orphans in the wild west set off in search of their outlaw father. A lot of action with little character development. While the ending is heartwarming, it didn't quite feel fully resolved to me.
  
• 
  Kellee Moye

  *Varmints by Andy Hirsch was quite a wild, western adventure following two siblings, Opie the hothead and Ned the sweetheart, trying to find their Pa. There are problems around every corner, and you never know how they are going to get through the situation, but somehow they do! I know my students who like adventurous graphic novels will be a fan of this one. The story ended with a cliffhanger, so I am assuming there will be more to come!
• 
  Forever Young Adult

  Graded By: Brian
  Cover Story: Which Way Did He Go, George?
  Drinking Buddy: You Must Be Thirteen to Drink Here
  Testosterone Level: You'll Shoot Your Eye Out
  Talky Talk: Smile When You Say That
  Bonus Factors: Wacky Races, Ticket to Ride
  Bromance Status: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badges
  
  Read the full book report
  here.
• 
  Derek Royal

  What a fun book! This is a narrative world that Hirsch has been working on for a while, albeit in self-published minicomics. This is the first sustained story with these characters, and I hope this book is successful enough to warrant further volumes.
• 
  Barbara

  Despite feeling a bit disconcerted at the start of the book because I wasn't clear about the whereabouts of the protagonists' mother, I ended up enjoying this one thoroughly. Not only was it packed with humor and thrills and gasp-worthy situations that left their fate in the air--at least briefly--but there were also plenty of parts that touched my heart and made me feel deeply. After all, it's hard for two youngsters to make it on their own, especially in the Wild West. As they search for the crime kingpin known simply as Pa, they encounter several villains but also quite a few friendly folks who are willing to lend a helping hand. If Opie is cynical and trusts no one, her younger brother Ned is naive, gullible, and trusts just about everyone. This leads to his being taken advantage of more times than once, but still, everything seems to work out in the end, even when he is tricked into buying a donkey instead of a horse, to his sister's disappointment. But somehow Maggie, the donkey, has heroism in her blood, and she gives forth the mightiest of efforts to help her new owners in the derby. Honestly, so much happens in this book that it's hard to do it justice, but I will say that I will eagerly await the next book. Since readers are left hanging at the end, it appears more than likely that there will be another one in which we will finally meet Pa. As I read the book, I couldn't help thinking what it must have been like to have been an orphan during those times and what youngsters might have had to do in order to survive. All of this has been captured well in this graphic novel sure to keep intermediate and middle grade readers engaged.
• 
  Christina Getrost

  What a silly fun book! Loved it! Great tween/all ages graphic novel, set in the Old West. Very comical. Brother and sister are off on an adventure to find their Pa, who abandoned them when they were very young; big sister is mad at Pa for causing their Ma's death, but little brother doesn't know this, he simply idolizes his mythic father. But there's another "Pa" in the story, a criminal mastermind, and there's a lot of farcical mixups and narrow escapes, mishaps, near death scrapes, hoo boy! Train bridges blown up, cross country races on donkeys, lots of silliness ensues. Both kids have outsize personalities, they're a hoot. I loved the art, it's very tv-cartoony, if you know what I mean. My favorite kind of graphic novel.
• 
  Shaunterria

  This graphic novel follows a brother and sister in the mythical Old West. The death of their mother has spurred them in their search of Pa, an outsized outlaw who left them when they were small. The run into bandits, bears, and more as they seek him out and take on challenges head on. The illustrations are brightly colored and attention-grabbing, but the superficial portrayal of diverse cultures is a disappointment. Still, there is fun to be had in this book. Varmints is recommended as an additional title for graphic novel collections.
• 
  Shravan Uchiha

  I think the book was good, it was really funny but at the same time strange.Opie and Ned went to all sorts of places in the Wild West.They meet a bunch of cowboys, ride on a bunch of horses.I almost loved the whole book except for one thing.The ending didn't end up as a really good one, it didn't seem like an ending.
• 
  Leigh Anne

  SEE-IT Award nominee. I'm giving these all 5 stars to avoid spoilers, and holding off on review until the award has been presented.
• 
  Kavya

  It kind of sad when the brother found out about the dad
• 
  Hannah McManus

  I loved every single second of this.
• 
  Elizabeth P

  Overall I enjoyed this graphic novel. It does annoy me, though, when graphic novels don't resolve everything in hopes that there will be a sequel but a sequel is never made.
• 
  Erin

  Cute adventure tale. Extra star for some truly funny blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments in the writing.
• 
  Andréa

  Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
• 
  Elisabeth

  3.5 stars.
• 
  OpenBookSociety.com

  
  http://openbooksociety.com/article/va...
  
  Varmints
  By Andy Hirsch
  ISBN 978-1-62672-279-0
  Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Scott
  
  Varmints, by Andy Kirsch, is a series of conundrums that lead to disaster and also to the meaning of family. The resonate theme throughout the lead protagonists Opie and Ned, two youngsters in the wild west, is that of cooperation and sticking together through thick and thin. The trials they face are great, and they must overcome them and their personal differences in their quest to find Pa, a notorious criminal mastermind and their father. The graphic novel is light in tone and can be read fairly quickly. It’s a brisk read that is satisfying until the end.
  
  The plot, so to speak, consists of bite sized chapters, that separate the hectic adventure they go on. The action ramps up with each bit, notching up the tension; even more daring exploits keep the action on an upward spiral, to the proverbial death trap at the end – an event worthy of Indiana Jones. The pacing is well executed and although you know what Opie and Ned are going through, it becomes difficult to feel for the characters until the very end. I believe this is because the plot is the foremost thing on Hirsch’s mind, not the characterization. Plot-wise Varmints is well laid out but it lacks in other areas.
  
  Speaking of characterization, the wide cast of characters prevents you from developing an affinity for any of them. They come and go, and their personalities, for the most part, fade into oblivion. Only Opie and Ned are well explored, and you even leave the graphic novel with not much of a feeling towards them –you are just happy for them and that’s it. A smaller cast of characters probably would have fared better as you could get to know more about them in order for reader empathy to be engaged. With the wild range of hijinks they go on, however, introducing a large cast is an inevitable outcome. For the most part, each character in Varmints has a unique voice but you get lost in the action, and the remnants of their personalities are scattered to the wind.
  
  Artistically, Varmints is very loose. It has deft lines and skillful penmanship that give this wacky wild west adventure the style it warrants. Cartoonish, to a fault (a good fault, mind you) I couldn’t picture any other art style that would have made this graphic novel any better. The sometimes outlandish events, really stand out in Hirsch’s style making this, visually, a treat for the eyes. The panelation is well placed and the layout is based on a standard grid. Thank goodness for Manga Studio EX, and Photoshop CS5, the tools used to create this fantastic piece of art. They brought out the basic framework for the graphic novel and Hirsch’s skill with the tools is readily apparent. The art isn’t cluttered (except in the occasional brawl) but the dynamic distortion of figure, in the right places play right into Hirsch’s niche. The work is never devoid of movement, and this keeps the plot rolling along.
  
  Thematically, the work falters. What really is a story about two children trying to find their place in the fictional world they inhabit gets lost in the action. The primary themes are really not there until the end, and this is primarily because this is a plot driven story (if I haven’t said this enough). I would have liked to have seen more character development, and focus towards the themes listed above. Given the nature of the story, I would have liked a little more closure; given the nature of the plot, it could have been paced a little slower. All in all this is a solid story, just one with a few holes that have to be plugged up.
  
  For lovers of action comics in the wild west vein, and the child in each of us, Varmints is well worth the endeavor, For those looking for a little more depth, this might not be your cup of tea. Andy Hirsch has created a mayhem of adventure, and it’s sure to delight discerning readers of graphic novels. There might be a few holes here, but they are well worth it, just to see the end scene.
• 
  Comics Alternative

  
  http://comicsalternative.com/comics-a...
• 
  Carla

  This is a graphic novel/comic book that reminds me of the old comics I read as a child. Being an adult now, I was not impressed so much with this book, but I definitely think children (8 to 12) would enjoy this book. The illustrations are colourful, detailed and humorous. They definitely add to the story and help to show what is happening.
  
  Opie and her little brother Ned have lost their Ma and are now traveling the Wild West in search of their Pa so they can be a family. While on their journey, they are always running into trouble. There are some humorous events that will resonate with children. Throughout all this, Ned makes friends along the way. The story flows very nicely. Will they find their Pa? Will they become a family? A book definitely geared to children. I think reluctant readers will find this story interesting.
  
  I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Heidi

  Taking place in the Old West, two siblings have lost their mother and home, and Opie (the older sister) is seeking the man she holds responsible. But she and her brother Ned run into one predicament after another in the search for "Pa", the crime boss. In fact, the two siblings spend most of their time running from one risky situation to another, squabbling the whole time. The siblings end up working in a saloon, running from horse rustlers, and entering a contest for a chance to talk to "Pa" face to face. Through it all, the siblings stay together and eventually must come to a determination of what exactly family is and what they are willing to do to find it as well as the price they are willing to pay for revenge. While the story is a bit rough-around the edges, as one would expect from a story about the 'Wild West', the theme of family is a good one.
• 
  Teresa Edmunds

  This book is like a series contained within itself. Each chapter is a different adventure for Opie and her brother Ned. The thread connecting each chapter is their search for the crime king, Pa, who happens to be their dad. Set in the ol' west, the story has the stereotypical western scenes: saloon brawl, horse thieves, saloon girls, hoppin' the train, etc. I wanted to enjoy it more, but the story is disconnected in many places and doesn't flow well, so it's just okay. There is violence - the biggest being guns repeatedly placed at the children's heads. Though the vocabulary could be 3rd to 4th, the subject is 6th grade and up.
• 
  Donna Sanders

  Received from the publisher for an honest review. A Opie and her young brother Ned have lost their Ma and are now traveling the Wild West in search of their Pa so they can be a family. Through their travels, trouble is never far behind, one adventure after another and Ned making friends along the way. The story flows nicely from one chapter to the next. The illustrations truly help tell the story. Will the siblings from their Pa and become a family again? Read this very visual graphic novel and find out.
• 
  Ryan

  A kids western themed graphic novel that tries to be the comics of old, but falls flat. As you read Varmints it has the feel of the old Orphan Annie cartoon, or like it wants to be Dagwood, or even Bumstead. But the story just doesn’t cut it. It’s to long for a cartoon, but not detailed enough for a graphic novel. The reader goes from scenario to scenario with no in between. This title was not for me.
• 
  pati

  This story does not resonant with me - that being said, I can see how young readers would enjoy the antics of each of the characters.
• 
  First Second Books

  Our favorite western by far (of course, we are bias)! The books is gorgeous and funny, and it reflects the author's wonderful personality really well. We love working with Andy!
• 
  Celeste

  Graphic novel with arguing siblings. Not my favorite characters even though the story was decent enough.
• 
  Sarah

  Pretty cute - certainly seems like there are more adventures in store.
• 
  Avi Alany

  Fun and engaging with incredibly appealing cartoon art.