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Johnny Graphic Adventures #2
Johnny Graphic and the Attack of the Zombies
The Pulse-Pounding Sequel to Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb...
Fresh from saving the lives of millions of people, Johnny Graphic and his friends are drawn into another rip-roaring ghost adventure.
This time an army of monstrous bog zombies has appeared out of nowhere to ravage the northern counties of the Royal Kingdom. They’re rampaging, burning, and smashing everything in sight. And they're capturing kids for reasons too terrible to even contemplate. Johnny, his best friend Nina Bain, and his sister Mel are summoned to help defeat the evil genius thought to be behind this nefarious plot. Percy Rathbone! The very same ghost who created the etheric bomb. Who nearly destroyed Johnny's hometown. And who was the last person to see Johnny's parents before they disappeared.
Cut off from all help in the grim, foggy northern wilderness, the young news photographer and his companions must fight for their very survival while they try to rescue the kids who have been taken. But Percy is plotting an even greater horror. And Johnny has to stop him before it’s too late.
The fate of the Royal Kingdom depends on it.
Fresh from saving the lives of millions of people, Johnny Graphic and his friends are drawn into another rip-roaring ghost adventure.
This time an army of monstrous bog zombies has appeared out of nowhere to ravage the northern counties of the Royal Kingdom. They’re rampaging, burning, and smashing everything in sight. And they're capturing kids for reasons too terrible to even contemplate. Johnny, his best friend Nina Bain, and his sister Mel are summoned to help defeat the evil genius thought to be behind this nefarious plot. Percy Rathbone! The very same ghost who created the etheric bomb. Who nearly destroyed Johnny's hometown. And who was the last person to see Johnny's parents before they disappeared.
Cut off from all help in the grim, foggy northern wilderness, the young news photographer and his companions must fight for their very survival while they try to rescue the kids who have been taken. But Percy is plotting an even greater horror. And Johnny has to stop him before it’s too late.
The fate of the Royal Kingdom depends on it.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
D.R. Martin
8 books5 followersD.R. has worked as a journalist and editor, a copywriter and photographer, a book and music reviewer, a TV scriptwriter, and, not least, a novelist. He is the author of the rollicking ghost adventures Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb , Johnny Graphic and the Attack of the Zombies and Johnny Graphic and the Ghost of Doom. The Johnny Graphic trilogy is also available as an e-book box set. His canine cozy mystery series, written under the pen name Richard Audry, includes The Karma of King Harald, King Harald's Heist, and King Harald's Snow Job. In addition, he is the author of the Mary MacDougall historical mysteries A Pretty Little Plot, The Stolen Star, A Daughter's Doubt, and A Fatal Fondness, also written under the pen name Richard Audry.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 6, 2016
A zombie story for kids - can that work? It can with this latest installment in the Johnny Graphic series. Johnny is twelve and three quarters, working as a news photographer and able to see ghosts - which makes him destined to get in supernatural trouble. This time, he and his friends are up against some ghastly 'bog zombies' - corpses reanimated by being inhabited by ghosts.
I was somewhat reminded of Tin Tin and his adventures, but the classic comic series has more humor, while Johnny Graphic is darker. I'm not sure each scene in this book is really suitable for young readers, while on the other hand I doubt whether the classic writing style will appeal to all.
The plot was helped along by several convenient coincidences, which you sometimes find in children's books and which usually is ok, but may find adults roll their eyes. The dialogues sounded comically formal and cumbersome - which is how I'd imagine some snotty aristocrats and their butlers to express themselves rather than a young adventurer such as Johnny. Exclamations like "Holy Maroley" sound cute but definitely also weird.
This is an interesting alternative to the usual children's fantasy stuff out there, but you really have to adjust to its unusual antiquated style. No way to know but to give it a try.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
I was somewhat reminded of Tin Tin and his adventures, but the classic comic series has more humor, while Johnny Graphic is darker. I'm not sure each scene in this book is really suitable for young readers, while on the other hand I doubt whether the classic writing style will appeal to all.
The plot was helped along by several convenient coincidences, which you sometimes find in children's books and which usually is ok, but may find adults roll their eyes. The dialogues sounded comically formal and cumbersome - which is how I'd imagine some snotty aristocrats and their butlers to express themselves rather than a young adventurer such as Johnny. Exclamations like "Holy Maroley" sound cute but definitely also weird.
This is an interesting alternative to the usual children's fantasy stuff out there, but you really have to adjust to its unusual antiquated style. No way to know but to give it a try.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
July 5, 2015
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13444834
I really enjoyed the first book in the Johnny Graphic series so when the author offered to send me an e-book version of this, the second book in the series, I was pleased as punch. And I must say I wasn't disappointed. It is even better than the first!
I won't discuss the plot as it is described adequately in the book description on Amazon's website and other good booksellers. What I would like to discuss are the facets of this (and the first book) that I found most interesting and enjoyable.
First of all, the style, like a great recipe, blends Biggles, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew together, with a soupcon of Tom Swift and a dash of Goosebumps, to serve up a fast-paced adventure story that younger readers from ten up couldn't help but love, as would older readers who grew up on on fun adventure stories. And with Johnny's pal Nina and his sister Mel playing almost an equal part in the adventure it would be of appeal to girls as well as boys.
Secondly, the history in the alternative world the story is set in has been so well thought out. The fact that some people can interact with the dead who have not passed on could not but help but to have changed history slightly, so instead of the United Kingdom we have the Royal Kingdom (where most of the action in this novel is set) and its capital Royalton.
The landmass which in our universe is made up of Canada and the U.S.A. is made up of Frontiere (roughly the area which you could describe as French Canada), Northland (the rest of Canada, Freedonia and its capital Neuport (New York?), the Plains Republic out west with its capital Zenith (Johnny's home town), and down south the Old Dominion.
I couldn't help but smile at Moorland Yard, the Royal Kingdom's national police headquarters, or when Johnny and co. have to travel north to foggy Moorland to continue their investigations. I also can't help but wonder if our villain's name, Percy Rathbone, is a nod to that great actor Basil Rathbone who while known for Sherlock Holmes, was such a great villain in movies like The Adventures Of Robin Hood, Captain Blood and The Mark Of Zorro. (Oh I do hope for a swordfight in the third book in the series.)
Finally, the book is set in 1936, in our world the golden era of flying boats, and this is reflected in both Johnny Graphic novels, although less-so in this one. Hopefully we will see more aerial adventures in the third novel which is due to be set at least partly in the frozen island country of Okkatek (Iceland).
Overall, great fun from start to finish. Highly recommended.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13444834
I really enjoyed the first book in the Johnny Graphic series so when the author offered to send me an e-book version of this, the second book in the series, I was pleased as punch. And I must say I wasn't disappointed. It is even better than the first!
I won't discuss the plot as it is described adequately in the book description on Amazon's website and other good booksellers. What I would like to discuss are the facets of this (and the first book) that I found most interesting and enjoyable.
First of all, the style, like a great recipe, blends Biggles, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew together, with a soupcon of Tom Swift and a dash of Goosebumps, to serve up a fast-paced adventure story that younger readers from ten up couldn't help but love, as would older readers who grew up on on fun adventure stories. And with Johnny's pal Nina and his sister Mel playing almost an equal part in the adventure it would be of appeal to girls as well as boys.
Secondly, the history in the alternative world the story is set in has been so well thought out. The fact that some people can interact with the dead who have not passed on could not but help but to have changed history slightly, so instead of the United Kingdom we have the Royal Kingdom (where most of the action in this novel is set) and its capital Royalton.
The landmass which in our universe is made up of Canada and the U.S.A. is made up of Frontiere (roughly the area which you could describe as French Canada), Northland (the rest of Canada, Freedonia and its capital Neuport (New York?), the Plains Republic out west with its capital Zenith (Johnny's home town), and down south the Old Dominion.
I couldn't help but smile at Moorland Yard, the Royal Kingdom's national police headquarters, or when Johnny and co. have to travel north to foggy Moorland to continue their investigations. I also can't help but wonder if our villain's name, Percy Rathbone, is a nod to that great actor Basil Rathbone who while known for Sherlock Holmes, was such a great villain in movies like The Adventures Of Robin Hood, Captain Blood and The Mark Of Zorro. (Oh I do hope for a swordfight in the third book in the series.)
Finally, the book is set in 1936, in our world the golden era of flying boats, and this is reflected in both Johnny Graphic novels, although less-so in this one. Hopefully we will see more aerial adventures in the third novel which is due to be set at least partly in the frozen island country of Okkatek (Iceland).
Overall, great fun from start to finish. Highly recommended.
February 8, 2015
[D.R. Martin] does an excellent job continuing the adventures of young boy photographer, Johnny Graphic and his friends. I [Johnny Graphic and the Attack of the Zombies] Johnny, Mel, Nina, and Dame Honoria continue the battle against Percy. This time Percy has created an army of zombies.
The classic style of the writing reminds me of Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew mysteries. It is a great throw back with a modern twist. I really enjoyed the style and the characters. The new characters that [Martin] added fit very well into the plot and enhanced the story line. I really recommend this book and feel it would be great in a classroom.
The classic style of the writing reminds me of Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew mysteries. It is a great throw back with a modern twist. I really enjoyed the style and the characters. The new characters that [Martin] added fit very well into the plot and enhanced the story line. I really recommend this book and feel it would be great in a classroom.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews