The Somewhat Ambitious

Image comics, I label I generally avoid with all the tenacity of a… very… uh, tenacious thing*, has released The New Brighton Archaeological Society. Mark Andrew Smith and Matthew Weldon have tried to fuse influences such as Peter Pan, Lord of the Rings and several mythical eastern tales. The story centres around a group of intrepid kids who explore, invent and… good god. If this isn’t wish fulfillment for every nerdy kid out there, I’ll eat me hat.

…Yes, I said eat me hat. I’m feeling a tad Dick Van Dyck-ish today (and by that, I mean I’ve been doing a fucking awful British accent, and compulsively cleaning chimneys).

The four main characters are orphans, whose parents (archaeologists) were killed in a terrible accident. Now, I grew up reading Enid Blyton, wherein young curious adventurers battled smugglers, discovered treasure, and generally had the time of their lives. I also read C.S. Lewis without picking up on the Christian subtext I was being battered with, and instead focussed on the wonderful story of kids who managed to live more than any adult ever did. Most titles I’m enjoying at present are flat out terrifying, with the possible exception of Fables. If you tried to give Y: The Last Man, Preacher or 100 Bullets to the young Paul, he’d never pee straight again. What The New Brighton Archaeological Society is attempting is, by all accounts, the fusing adventure and learning, without being condescending.

And whilst I’m not a child, my inner child is going to read the shit out of this.

(A preview of the comic can be read over at IGN)

/Paul

(Link via Boing Boing)

*I’ve just woken up, cut me a break.