Heather’s Bookshelf: The Greatest Comic Book Tale Ever Told
Author: Michael Colon
Released: 06/06/25
Genre: YA/Coming-of-Age Fantasy
“The more I look around, the more this city doesn’t feel real. It looks like something out of a coloring book. This world doesn’t feel like it’s the way I’ve been told it is.”
“The Greatest Comic Book Tale Ever Told” introduces Sonny Forever, a teenager living on the wrong side of Irontown City with his foster mother, Sara.
Sonny’s a fan of comics, his foster family, and his favorite action figure. Unlike the heroes in his stories, he’s not the strongest or bravest - often bullied by those around him. Sonny finds two best friends, Marylee and Franklin, and set out to make it through the rest of high school. But Sonny doesn’t see the world like his friends, and there seems to be something from his past haunting him…
When tragedy strikes, Sonny is forced to look within himself to find how he’s going to move forward with his life. Unfortunately, he doesn’t like everything he sees…
Will Sonny find what he is searching for? Will he succumb to the shadow or will he find a different place in the universe?
Trigger Warning: violence, death, bullying
Overall, I found this tale to be a though-provoking and emotional surprise. The story is told through the POV of the main protagonist, Sonny. It begins as Sonny is in his early teenage years, however, the tone and voice of the main character seemed a bit younger. Sonny’s a socially awkward and isolated student, which is portrayed clearly through his actions and thoughts. The mutual love between Sonny and his foster mother, Sara, is endearing and brings an element of hope to the often downtrodden tale. I also especially liked the friendship between Sonny and his two besties, Marylee and Franklin, and the profound effect each of them had on Sonny’s self-identity. The pacing of the story is done in a way that the tension builds to a peak and crescendos with Sonny’s need to make a life-altering decision. The ending of the tale wraps everything up nicely while highlighting key aspects of Sonny’s journey. This is not your every day comic book tale, instead utilizing the tropes to highlight personal growth and self-realization.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A thought-provoking YA Coming-of-Age disguised as a comic book tale. Strong themes of finding oneself, self-identity, loss, and found family perpetuate Sonny’s personal journey.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Michael Colon
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Find it for purchase here
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