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Saved by the Bell #1-8
Saved By the Bell
The classic TV series gets an update for today’s brand new high-schoolers as the coolest kids at Bayside High start their freshman year!
All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!
All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!
112 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
8 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 16, 2018
No. I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to start this the easy way. If there’s one thing Saved by the Bell taught me over the years—and it is more responsible for shaping my character and thinking than anything else in this world, including parents, teachers, coaches, religion, history, etc.—it is this: you never do things the easy way when there’s a much more convoluted way of doing them that will result in mass confusion and madcap hjinks.
When I recently learned that there was a Saved by the Bell comic in existence, one that moved the story to the present day and shunted our favorite Bayside Sixsome back to their freshman year of high school, one thought came immediately to mind: why in the name of Chief Henry wasn’t I asked to write this?! Who on Earth—nay, who in the UNIVERSE—would describe with more loving care every gossamer thread of platinum blonde hair on Rod Belding’s head, every duck-waddle step taken by Mr. Tuttle, every disaffected sneer directed by Neil the Hall Monitor toward Zack and company?
No one, that’s who.
Like every other viewer who grew up watching the Bell and, later, may or may not have watched it in syndication every single day for approximately 8 straight years while getting ready for work in the morning (and who also may or may not own every episode on DVD), I watched for so many reasons: the sharp and incisive scripting, the nuanced pathos of the acting, the cutting-edge special effects, the insight it gave into the teenage human condition…
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I can’t even write that with a straight face. Let’s try that again.
Like every other viewer who grew up watching the Bell, I watched for many reasons: the cringe-worthy dialogue, the overwrought and ham-handed “acting,” special effects I could have bettered with the Radio Shack TRS-80s that we used for keyboarding class in 6th grade, and the whitest, most tone-deaf interpretation of teen life in the history of celluloid.
And it was BRILLIANT. Intentionally or not (one must assume the latter), the geniuses behind the scenes, and the thespians in front of the camera, created the most fantastic train wreck of a show I’ve ever seen.
Whatever your thing might be, the Bell had something for you.
Into misogyny? Bring on A.C. Slater, who so kindly offered to “charge lonely girls 25 cents to watch me flex” after suggesting that they “be a woman, and cook.”
Into bashing homeless people? Why, then, paragon of virtue/mall clothing store magnate Melvin Moody is your man, saying, of homeless Laura (Zack’s brief fling from the other side of the tracks, but the whitest, healthiest fling from the other side of the tracks you’ve ever seen), “Those people STEAL.”
Into making handicapped people feel uncomfortable? Here comes Zack Morris to loudly remind everyone that his wheelchair-bound friend (and fling—dude had game) Melissa IS IN A WHEELCHAIR, SO MAKE SURE YOU TREAT HER DIFFERENTLY!
Into abusing over-the-counter stimulants? Well, there’s Jessie Spano, popping so many Keep Alert pills (“Keep Alert? What are THESE for?” asks a very intellectually gifted Slater at one point) that she can no longer distinguish between being so excited and being so scared.
It was a landmark achievement in pop culture history, as though the gods of unintentional comedy came down to earth, pointed at show creator Sam Bobrick, and said, “Yay, verily—into thine unworthy mortal shell shall we copulate into our clenched fists and pour our mighty seed, and from your pitiful human mind will spring forth a creation of such towering magnitude that future generations may gaze upon its wondrous splendor only by looking into a mirror, lest they be smoted by the awesome, unfiltered power of its might!” (To be fair, sometimes it was intentionally funny—Mr. Dewey talking about having to go home and pump iron? Genius.)
An impossible task to re-create that magic in graphic novel form, sans the actors who so indelibly originated and imprinted their roles, the high-quality production values, and the unique slice of history that was the early, pre-Internet 90s, with its high-riding acid-washed jeans, brick-style cell phones, and desire to be far badder than it was?
Absolutely. Not even I could make the Bell pop off the page like it did on screen (though I’d come pretty close, I can tell you that much).
And so, at last, your intrepid reviewer FINALLY gets to the review portion of the review.
In honor of my buddy read partner Kelly (or KAPOWSKI, as she is known to me), let’s start with what they got right, as befits Ms. Kapowski’s sunny demeanor:
-Schemes galore: nearly every issue features some outlandish Zack-centric scheme, many of which were worthy of his legendary genius.
-Living in the now: updating the setting to modern day meant ditching some of the charm of the series (not the least of which is the fashion); that said, Joelle Sellner does a good job of leveraging current technology and social mores in a way that feels like it fits. I found myself kind of wanting more by the time I reached the end of this slim volume.
-Supporting players: the thing I appreciated most about this series was the way it subtly incorporated characters who only occasionally (or even less frequently) appeared on the show. SBTB obsessive freaks like me eat that stuff up.
(And speaking of Kelly--buddy read Kelly, I mean--check out her amazing review of this book and know that I did not--I repeat, did NOT--pay her (very much) to say such (wonderful and accurate) things about me--she's just naturally intelligent, gifted, and insightful.)
Now…what did our writer/artist friends do that gave me the kind of breakout even Beldasil can’t cure?
-A.C. Slater? More like I.M. Neutered: it’s horrible, but one of the most entertaining aspects of the show, for me, was always Slater’s unapologetically over-the-top misogyny. Pretty much anything and everything he said to a woman—from “Hey, Mama, wanna have a burger with a real man?” to “Put on something cute and move it into the kitchen”—was the most profound comic gold (albeit for all the wrong reasons). By my count, Slater said exactly one thing that was truly offensive to women in this collection. ONE. It should be at least one per story! Stay true to the characters, if only so we can laugh at how horrible they are as humans. One could argue, as we have (thankfully) entered the #MeToo era, that it is absolutely not appropriate to have a misogynistic core character (especially one you're supposed to like), but I would argue precisely the opposite--just because treating people as humans regardless of gender is the right thing to do doesn't mean everyone's going to do it, and we have to deal with that. Slater's ridiculous degree of chauvinism does two things: 1) sheds light on, and allows mockery of, macho male culture, thereby helping us to show the absurdity of it; and 2) give him a chance to grow and learn as a character as a strong female character (Jessie, in this case) opens his eyes to a new world of truth where women are just as smart, strong, and capable as men (if not more so).
-Caricature, not character: Okay, granted, as a general rule, the SBTB characters have about as much depth as a paper plate, but they’re even more one-note here than they are in the show. We don’t get to see any of Slater’s insecurity about his humble lineage (such as when he tried to hook up with a princess); Screech’s sensitive, lady-friendly side (such as when he inadvertently wooed (perhaps blinded?) Kelly with science); Zack’s commitment to a worthy cause (such as when he stood up for Becky, the dead duck); Lisa’s willingness to put up with discomfort for her friends (such as when she broke nails wrapping Zack’s cast after knee surgery); Kelly’s bad girl side (such as when she did the vertical mambo with college hunk Jeff (vertical mambo = kissing; she wasn’t THAT bad, people)); or Jessie’s unexpected selflessness (such as when she invites Screech, the REAL valedictorian, to come up and speak at graduation). I’m not excepting a Bell comic to be a nuanced character study, but I want to see SOME depth of character. There are only so many times Lisa can talk about going to the mall as shorthand for, “I’m shallow and care only about superficial things!” before I start to lose it.
-Tackle the tough stuff, dammit: In the show, it was not uncommon for the gang to unite—and even join forces with Mr. Building—to fight for a righteous cause. The aforementioned episode with Becky the duck? That was Zack and company taking on Big Oil—and winning. Or, what about when they said no to drugs—even though that meant ditching Hollywood pal Johnny Dakota and his entourage of hotties? Hell, Zack even made amends for his cultural misappropriation issues by sincerely honoring his Native American heritage (okay, that was ridiculous, because Zack is literally the whitest human that has ever lived, but points for effort). C’mon, comic—less slapstick, more crackstick (because, um, you crack the stick to, ah, address tough issues…okay, fine, that didn’t work, but it rhymed, so suck it).
Bottom line: there’s no way to replicate the unique magic of the show—it was very much a product of time and place, and a unique alchemy of charismatic (but not necessarily gifted) performers and noble intent somehow elevating shoddy story construction and production. The comic can never be what the show was.
But…
It could be closer. It could be more. Don’t just wink at the show’s flaws—embrace them. Revel in them. Incorporate them. Give me over-the-top dramatic terribleness. Give me very special episodes. Give me a story structure that scoffs at the idea of consistent continuity, but selectively keeps certain plot elements advancing. Give me another summer at Malibu Sands. Give me a sequel to the murder mystery plot at the Jameson mansion.
Hell, just give me the pen. Because I’ve got your back, Zack. I’ll make you a dater, Slater. I know you hate the beach, Screech. I don’t mind that you’re messy, Jessie. I’ll pay off your Visa, Lisa. And I’m even okay if you’re occasionally smelly, Kelly (that was a rumor I heard from Melvin Nerdly).
In the end? We’ll call it 2.5 stars.
But it could be so much more…
Your move, Roar Comics.
October 27, 2015
Meh. The best aspect of this was just the nostalgia i felt while reading this but overall....MEH
February 1, 2016
Ok, OK. I give in. But let me start by letting you know that if you would like to read a hilarious and accurate review of this comic, just check out my buddy read partner for this, and all around brilliant writer Sean Gibson .His review of the SBTB comic and overall experience will give you much greater pleasure and amusement than actually reading it. Seriously.
Where to begin?...ok. Let me be straightforward. As soon as I found out this existed, I knew it would be mine. Let's not kid ourselves people. I was born in the late 80's and my freaking name is KELLY MORRIS. SBTB was my childhood lifeblood, my source of entertainment, sexual confusion, and humor for years. And then it came out on DVD. So I grew up with these characters and this show and loved the idea that someone had taken it and put a new spin on it. So when Sean said he had ordered a copy and we should buddyread, I was elated.
Alas, my hopes and dreams didn't last long. When we started reading I immediately voiced my childish complaints to Sean. Why don't these characters look like the ones I know and love? Why are these storylines falling so flat? Why has the setting been updated to the present tense? I was floundering.
Sean made some great points to my initial arguments and I decided I needed to be more open-minded to enjoy this for what it was, without so many preconceived expectations.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA just kidding.
Ok I tried that. I really did. Sean pointed out some of the positives, specifically that an updated setting would open so many great opportunities for these characters and what could happen with their stories. With that glaringly optimistic thought I tried to trudge through the rest of the lackluster, g-rated humor of this comic without crying. I failed.
I know that the show is special because of how blatantly bad it is, and this comic tried to change all that. The cast is one dimensional and missing their trademark characteristics, we get none of the beloved side characters (with the exception of Kevin, one of my favorite's), the humor feels juvenile and forced, and honestly everyone in this comic just came off really young and snarky to me. I know I know....like that is any different than the show *rolls eyes*.
But the SBTB gang always had the right amount of heart and humor to make what they did so enjoyable. The thing I really enjoyed were the illustrations and color quality. That was it. So overall, I will just stick to watching the show on DVD and letting people tease me about my name.
And I strongly recommend if you are the activist "type" and love that nostalgic feeling SBTB alone can bring, we should really get together and let Roar comics know that there are others out there who treasure and love these characters and could do a much better job bringing them to life. Yes I am shamelessly endorsing Sean Gibson here. No regrets. He would do it better.
It's not alright. I am not saved by the bell.
2 stars. 2 words. Wasted Potential.
Where to begin?...ok. Let me be straightforward. As soon as I found out this existed, I knew it would be mine. Let's not kid ourselves people. I was born in the late 80's and my freaking name is KELLY MORRIS. SBTB was my childhood lifeblood, my source of entertainment, sexual confusion, and humor for years. And then it came out on DVD. So I grew up with these characters and this show and loved the idea that someone had taken it and put a new spin on it. So when Sean said he had ordered a copy and we should buddyread, I was elated.
Alas, my hopes and dreams didn't last long. When we started reading I immediately voiced my childish complaints to Sean. Why don't these characters look like the ones I know and love? Why are these storylines falling so flat? Why has the setting been updated to the present tense? I was floundering.
Sean made some great points to my initial arguments and I decided I needed to be more open-minded to enjoy this for what it was, without so many preconceived expectations.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA just kidding.
Ok I tried that. I really did. Sean pointed out some of the positives, specifically that an updated setting would open so many great opportunities for these characters and what could happen with their stories. With that glaringly optimistic thought I tried to trudge through the rest of the lackluster, g-rated humor of this comic without crying. I failed.
I know that the show is special because of how blatantly bad it is, and this comic tried to change all that. The cast is one dimensional and missing their trademark characteristics, we get none of the beloved side characters (with the exception of Kevin, one of my favorite's), the humor feels juvenile and forced, and honestly everyone in this comic just came off really young and snarky to me. I know I know....like that is any different than the show *rolls eyes*.
But the SBTB gang always had the right amount of heart and humor to make what they did so enjoyable. The thing I really enjoyed were the illustrations and color quality. That was it. So overall, I will just stick to watching the show on DVD and letting people tease me about my name.
And I strongly recommend if you are the activist "type" and love that nostalgic feeling SBTB alone can bring, we should really get together and let Roar comics know that there are others out there who treasure and love these characters and could do a much better job bringing them to life. Yes I am shamelessly endorsing Sean Gibson here. No regrets. He would do it better.
It's not alright. I am not saved by the bell.
2 stars. 2 words. Wasted Potential.
September 30, 2015
Cheesy, fun and very entertaining. I was a huge fan of SBTB back in the day, and that nostalgia played a big part in my enjoyment of this. The short stories throughout are silly and exceptionally cheesy, but it works because I know these characters and it's playing on that ACCEPTANCE of the silly and cheese that anyone who watched this kind of TV in the 90s had to have.
The artwork changes from one story to another, most work fairly well and the characters are recognisable enough. I don't think there's much else I can say about it really. It's for fans of the show, but anyone unfamiliar with it probably won't get this.
The artwork changes from one story to another, most work fairly well and the characters are recognisable enough. I don't think there's much else I can say about it really. It's for fans of the show, but anyone unfamiliar with it probably won't get this.
September 22, 2015
4 ENJOYABLE STARS!
Note: I received this e-book on a read-to-review basis. However, this does not affect my thoughts or opinions on this book in anyway. THANKS SO MUCH TO Netgalley and Lion Forge Comics for sending me this copy! I really appreciate it!
SO HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FILLED WITH GIFs FROM THE ORIGINAL SHOW!
This comic is based on a TV show by the same name, which I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with. I, however, had never seen this show and I still really enjoyed this book! Here I'm going to talk about some of the things that I liked and some (but very few) that I didn't.
1. The artwork.
This was my first comic ever (aside from the ones I maybe flipped through when I was a kid?) and that's why I'm not the bets person to compare its illustrations and artwork to other comics. That being said, the art worked well for me. They were bright and nice to look at, and at no point did they fail to exactly convey the atmosphere of the scene.
2. The theme.
It had 8 cute little short stories and I liked how they were "modernised" so overall the theme was light, but fun to read about. Each story talked about one character's shenanigan, and had a little moral sort of thing at the end.
3. Had a very cliché aura around it. But in a good way.
The whole thing was realistic in the way TV show is realistic (ha ha ha). It had the typical high-school characters: the jock, the pretty cheerleader that the guys are chasing, the nerdy and practical one, the fashionista, the geek, and the class-clown, complete with the strict-yet-lovable headmaster. But that was expected, right? The book didn't give you what you didn't want or weren't expecting from it. It delivers everything you expected from it on a silver platter, with a side of hilarious punch-lines. The whole thing is done pretty neatly, and I'm not complaining one bit about the cliché-ness.
4. Les caractères.
As I've mentioned above, the characters were also what you would expect from a typical high school setting, but they were all extremely complaisant! I especially loved Jessie for her strongheaded-ness and being the practical one out of the lot. Another character I really loved was Zack – he was funny, sarcastic and well, very full of himself. Me gusta.
5. Overall?
I think this book has a very Archies' vibe around it and is cute, funny, and a one-time read. Do give it a try if you're a fan of the TV show, or even if you're not but want short, light, funny, and nothing-too-serious sort of books. This book isn't one that would leave a lasting effect on you, and it wasn't that remarkable. However, I did really, really enjoy it! It was something that you read and forget about but the duration of the time that you're reading it, your time is well-spent.
For all my Indian followers reading this, I would maybe compare it to Shararat, just minus the magic and with oodles of high-school drama!
Am I excited for the next volume? Umm, yes! Not in the way that I can't wait for it, but in the way that yes, I'm definitely going to read and I already know that I'll like it.
SO I URGE EVERYONE TO PICK THIS UP BECAUSE IT WAS SUPER FUN! Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it! :D
Note: I received this e-book on a read-to-review basis. However, this does not affect my thoughts or opinions on this book in anyway. THANKS SO MUCH TO Netgalley and Lion Forge Comics for sending me this copy! I really appreciate it!
SO HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS FILLED WITH GIFs FROM THE ORIGINAL SHOW!
This comic is based on a TV show by the same name, which I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with. I, however, had never seen this show and I still really enjoyed this book! Here I'm going to talk about some of the things that I liked and some (but very few) that I didn't.
1. The artwork.
This was my first comic ever (aside from the ones I maybe flipped through when I was a kid?) and that's why I'm not the bets person to compare its illustrations and artwork to other comics. That being said, the art worked well for me. They were bright and nice to look at, and at no point did they fail to exactly convey the atmosphere of the scene.
2. The theme.
It had 8 cute little short stories and I liked how they were "modernised" so overall the theme was light, but fun to read about. Each story talked about one character's shenanigan, and had a little moral sort of thing at the end.
3. Had a very cliché aura around it. But in a good way.
The whole thing was realistic in the way TV show is realistic (ha ha ha). It had the typical high-school characters: the jock, the pretty cheerleader that the guys are chasing, the nerdy and practical one, the fashionista, the geek, and the class-clown, complete with the strict-yet-lovable headmaster. But that was expected, right? The book didn't give you what you didn't want or weren't expecting from it. It delivers everything you expected from it on a silver platter, with a side of hilarious punch-lines. The whole thing is done pretty neatly, and I'm not complaining one bit about the cliché-ness.
4. Les caractères.
As I've mentioned above, the characters were also what you would expect from a typical high school setting, but they were all extremely complaisant! I especially loved Jessie for her strongheaded-ness and being the practical one out of the lot. Another character I really loved was Zack – he was funny, sarcastic and well, very full of himself. Me gusta.
5. Overall?
I think this book has a very Archies' vibe around it and is cute, funny, and a one-time read. Do give it a try if you're a fan of the TV show, or even if you're not but want short, light, funny, and nothing-too-serious sort of books. This book isn't one that would leave a lasting effect on you, and it wasn't that remarkable. However, I did really, really enjoy it! It was something that you read and forget about but the duration of the time that you're reading it, your time is well-spent.
For all my Indian followers reading this, I would maybe compare it to Shararat, just minus the magic and with oodles of high-school drama!
Am I excited for the next volume? Umm, yes! Not in the way that I can't wait for it, but in the way that yes, I'm definitely going to read and I already know that I'll like it.
SO I URGE EVERYONE TO PICK THIS UP BECAUSE IT WAS SUPER FUN! Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it! :D
December 28, 2015
When I saw this on NetGalley, I had to request it! I had no idea that there were Saved By The Bell comics, and definitely didn't know about one that it set in modern times! I loved the show when I was a kid, and was "Team Zack" till the end.
It was a short, quick read that consisted of several smaller stories. I ended up reading it in one sitting.
I loved that the writers managed to keep the same spirit and personalities of the characters. I was able to read the conversations in their voice.
I laughed out loud when I saw the reference to Zack and the 90s humongous cell phone! In the comics, he finds the cell phone and says "I can't believe anyone ever used this."
I mean, seriously! LOL
The one thing I didn't really enjoy is Kevin the robot. He was made into a bigger character than he was in the show.. I completely forgot he was on the show until I saw him in the stories.
This is a great read for old fans of the show, or newer fans who will enjoy the modern twist.
*This arc was kindly provided by Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
It was a short, quick read that consisted of several smaller stories. I ended up reading it in one sitting.
I loved that the writers managed to keep the same spirit and personalities of the characters. I was able to read the conversations in their voice.
I laughed out loud when I saw the reference to Zack and the 90s humongous cell phone! In the comics, he finds the cell phone and says "I can't believe anyone ever used this."
I mean, seriously! LOL
The one thing I didn't really enjoy is Kevin the robot. He was made into a bigger character than he was in the show.. I completely forgot he was on the show until I saw him in the stories.
This is a great read for old fans of the show, or newer fans who will enjoy the modern twist.
*This arc was kindly provided by Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
November 2, 2015
I couldn't even finish this. I LOVE SBTB. Watched them from pre-high school to marriage, but this does them no justice. No one, not even TAT, could identify Kelly. The only well written characters were Lisa and Jessie. They felt true to the original characters, Lisa especially. A.C. was a total mess and Zack was a bigger douche in the comics than in canon. It all felt like the author was given stereotypes of the characters and based her characters on that; as for the drawings, it was as if the illustrator drew faces based on what they remembered from twenty years ago. I'm sorry, but this could have been awesome, but it failed on so many levels.
September 10, 2015
Read the original blog post here!
http://starrynightreads.blogspot.com/...
Saved By The Bell used to be one of my favorite shows when I was younger and I used to wake up early just to watch it before school. So when I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to read it! I mean come on, Saved By The Bell in current times how cool!
Normally I would put a summary in my own words here, however, this comic consist of 8 different short stories, each one focusing on Lisa, Jessie, Slader,Kelly, Zack or Screech. They were each a super light and easy read. I got this comic today and finished it in about an hour. I loved the different stories and that it wasn't just one long comic focusing on just Zack because,lets be honest, we always saw Zack in the show. I really wanted to see what each individual character was like in this novel. I commend the authors for really sticking to the initial personalities of the original characters.There was points in this comic where I could literally picture the actors saying. This book fit the original personalities to the T.
Some things that really caught me was how they interacted and reacted todays technology and even made jokes about the older technology. For example in the one of the short comics Zack finds an old phone,like the one he used to use all the time in the show to stir up trouble, and says, "who would ever use this brick?" I really wish they would have featured Jessie a little more because she's the one character I really did not get to see a lot.
Overall, this story was a light,airy read!
If your curious to see what's shaking at Bayside, jump into this comic!
http://starrynightreads.blogspot.com/...
Saved By The Bell used to be one of my favorite shows when I was younger and I used to wake up early just to watch it before school. So when I saw this on Netgalley I knew I had to read it! I mean come on, Saved By The Bell in current times how cool!
Normally I would put a summary in my own words here, however, this comic consist of 8 different short stories, each one focusing on Lisa, Jessie, Slader,Kelly, Zack or Screech. They were each a super light and easy read. I got this comic today and finished it in about an hour. I loved the different stories and that it wasn't just one long comic focusing on just Zack because,lets be honest, we always saw Zack in the show. I really wanted to see what each individual character was like in this novel. I commend the authors for really sticking to the initial personalities of the original characters.There was points in this comic where I could literally picture the actors saying. This book fit the original personalities to the T.
Some things that really caught me was how they interacted and reacted todays technology and even made jokes about the older technology. For example in the one of the short comics Zack finds an old phone,like the one he used to use all the time in the show to stir up trouble, and says, "who would ever use this brick?" I really wish they would have featured Jessie a little more because she's the one character I really did not get to see a lot.
Overall, this story was a light,airy read!
If your curious to see what's shaking at Bayside, jump into this comic!
August 18, 2015
oh the cheesy nostalgia (even though it takes place in the present)
November 9, 2021
So I have this tendency to be Ms. Tardy-To-The-Party, finding interesting stuff long after it's been out for a while and everyone's gone bonkers over it (the most famous example of this being Hamilton). This is no exception. This graphic novel appeared in 2015 and I'm only just now discovering it.
Sadly, I didn't miss much. While the artwork is good - the colors are great, and everything is very well-drawn - the story just did nothing for me in capturing the hilarious nonsense of the show's characters. I grew up with SBTB (I was credulous enough as a kid to believe that the show was an accurate representation of high school - boy was I shocked when I actually got there), and my memories of that show are some of my most treasured ones from my childhood. This graphic novel, sadly, did nothing in evoking those memories.
Sadly, I didn't miss much. While the artwork is good - the colors are great, and everything is very well-drawn - the story just did nothing for me in capturing the hilarious nonsense of the show's characters. I grew up with SBTB (I was credulous enough as a kid to believe that the show was an accurate representation of high school - boy was I shocked when I actually got there), and my memories of that show are some of my most treasured ones from my childhood. This graphic novel, sadly, did nothing in evoking those memories.
March 11, 2021
I'm marking this juvenile, as well, because it's definitely for the younger tween, and those getting ready for high school will be interested in the situations the Bayside teens get into. I liked it because even though it's adjusted to fit the social medias, pop culture, etc. of now, it still has a moral to be learned in each issue...which, anyone who grew up with Saved By the Bell knows that, was the basis of every episode. Ahhh, the good ole (wholesome) days.
For what this is, it's a decent companion. And I could absolutely hear the characters in my head! 3 stars (because I miss the real Slater...they shorted him in this, I'm sure because they didn't want anyone to be offended. Ugh.)
(Also, I totally felt like a tween again. Totally. And I kinda liked it.)
For what this is, it's a decent companion. And I could absolutely hear the characters in my head! 3 stars (because I miss the real Slater...they shorted him in this, I'm sure because they didn't want anyone to be offended. Ugh.)
(Also, I totally felt like a tween again. Totally. And I kinda liked it.)
July 29, 2021
Decent, but it doesn't really capture the vibe of the original.
October 5, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When I saw that there was a SAVED BY THE BELL comic, there wasn't really any thinking about whether or not I would request it. I clicked that button so fast I didn't even read the description or anything about it. I watched that show so much when I was a kid.
This is an updated take on an 80s classic, so there are a lot of the things you might recognize from the original, but a lot of things have also been modernized. Sleek cell phones, ipads, laptops, etc. Even though the clothes have been updated too, they still have that retro 80s throwback flavor.
The ladies are pretty awesome through the whole thing, and the boys pretty much bumble around trying to be the one who gets to go out with Kelly (or Lisa for Screech).
They're all just how you remember them -- if you watched the original. If you didn't, I think there's still a lot to enjoy about it. Same lessons and so on.
It had a real Archie's sort of vibe the whole way through too, so would probably also appeal to anyone who spent time reading those and Betty & Veronica. (*cough* ok that's also me *cough*)
My one nitpicky issue is that on the cover for the collected "stories/comics" A.C. Slater looks like A.C. Slater (aka Mario Lopez who is Mexican-American), but inside all of the illustrations have him looking like random white dude #2.
No me gusta.
Of course that might be because I was absolutely Team Slater and not Team Zach...but still. That part loses a star that could have been kept due to nostalgia happiness.
When I saw that there was a SAVED BY THE BELL comic, there wasn't really any thinking about whether or not I would request it. I clicked that button so fast I didn't even read the description or anything about it. I watched that show so much when I was a kid.
This is an updated take on an 80s classic, so there are a lot of the things you might recognize from the original, but a lot of things have also been modernized. Sleek cell phones, ipads, laptops, etc. Even though the clothes have been updated too, they still have that retro 80s throwback flavor.
The ladies are pretty awesome through the whole thing, and the boys pretty much bumble around trying to be the one who gets to go out with Kelly (or Lisa for Screech).
They're all just how you remember them -- if you watched the original. If you didn't, I think there's still a lot to enjoy about it. Same lessons and so on.
It had a real Archie's sort of vibe the whole way through too, so would probably also appeal to anyone who spent time reading those and Betty & Veronica. (*cough* ok that's also me *cough*)
My one nitpicky issue is that on the cover for the collected "stories/comics" A.C. Slater looks like A.C. Slater (aka Mario Lopez who is Mexican-American), but inside all of the illustrations have him looking like random white dude #2.
No me gusta.
Of course that might be because I was absolutely Team Slater and not Team Zach...but still. That part loses a star that could have been kept due to nostalgia happiness.
October 14, 2015
Do you remember Saved By the Bell? Well meet Saved By the Bell, but with a present day twist. If you were a fan of the original TV show, you will most likely love this comic. If you don't know Saved By the Bell, but like high school comedies then still check this out. The art style take a little bit of time to get used to, but the story was cheesy and well worth it.
I received an e-copy of this through Net-Galley for an honest review
I received an e-copy of this through Net-Galley for an honest review
June 22, 2017
I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This is a cute read. Saved by the Bell was one of my favourite TV shows when I was growing up. I still watch it whenever it is on TV. This graphic novel consists of many short stories. I loved how Zack and Slater were fighting for Kelly's affections. Screech was fighting for Lisa's heart. Jessie was still strong headed. Recommended for fans of the TV show. Overall, an awesome and funny read.
This is a cute read. Saved by the Bell was one of my favourite TV shows when I was growing up. I still watch it whenever it is on TV. This graphic novel consists of many short stories. I loved how Zack and Slater were fighting for Kelly's affections. Screech was fighting for Lisa's heart. Jessie was still strong headed. Recommended for fans of the TV show. Overall, an awesome and funny read.
October 22, 2015
2.5*
Overall, this was a somewhat fun read, and a decent trip down memory lane, since I have been a fan of SBTB for a very long time. The art did take awhile to grow on me, and I came to tolerate it, not so much with the new technology as SBTB was a show before that stuff was around.
Also, I felt like it focused too much on Zack and Slater competing for Kelly. I wanted to see Slater end up with Jessie, like I am used to.
Overall, this was a somewhat fun read, and a decent trip down memory lane, since I have been a fan of SBTB for a very long time. The art did take awhile to grow on me, and I came to tolerate it, not so much with the new technology as SBTB was a show before that stuff was around.
Also, I felt like it focused too much on Zack and Slater competing for Kelly. I wanted to see Slater end up with Jessie, like I am used to.
May 10, 2017
It just wasn't what I wanted, so I meant the one-star rating literally as "I didn't like it." I'm not saying other people shouldn't read it, and I'm not saying that other people shouldn't like it. It just wasn't what I wanted. My expectations were too high, I guess.
Review here
Review here
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October 2, 2015
2.5. Kinda meh. I dove into this due to my outrageous case of nostalgia blues, and this didn't help at all. I guess the only cure for my blues is more COWbell, not Saved by the bell.
Review will go up on my blog October 5th - I will endeavor to remember to post the link here as well.
I received a free copy in exchange for review.
Review will go up on my blog October 5th - I will endeavor to remember to post the link here as well.
I received a free copy in exchange for review.
September 13, 2015
Oh this was so cute! 90s nostalgia overload! See full review here. :)
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2015/09...
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2015/09...
February 25, 2018
They managed to get the humor right, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the artwork. When my brother found it hiding among the graphic novels at the book store and pointed it out to me, we couldn't help but think it looked like an Archie comic. And while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it didn't really work for me. After all, I've crushed on Zack Morris for 21 years but Zack looked ridiculous.
I also had mixed feelings about updating it to a modern high school. While the templates for the characters have always been stereotypical enough that updating them works fine, there is also just something so wonderfully 80s and early 90s about the show and it lost some of that charm here. (However, I did enjoy Zack making a joke about "How could anyone use this?" when he found a cell phone from the 90s like what his character used on the show.) But the gang having cell phones and tablets made it hard for me to connect to the stories -- anyone reading these comics probably was a big fan of the show and grew up during that particular time. Modern technology in it just made me feel old.
Kudos to the writers for getting Mr. Dewey 100% right. It cracked me up. You all totally missed the chance to have Max as a character though. Shame.
As for the stories, I enjoyed them all. But did they have to make Lisa so unlikable in that second story? She's my fave and I just really wanted Jessie to punch her one good time in that story. Sheesh. She was a terrible friend in that one (not that they couldn't be terrible to each other in the show occasionally because they totally were at times.)
All in all, fun and interesting. But they missed the mark a bit -- the comic wouldn't mean much to people who didn't grow up watching the show, but some of the changes made it feel totally disparate from what I grew up watching which means I didn't love it as much as I could have.
I also had mixed feelings about updating it to a modern high school. While the templates for the characters have always been stereotypical enough that updating them works fine, there is also just something so wonderfully 80s and early 90s about the show and it lost some of that charm here. (However, I did enjoy Zack making a joke about "How could anyone use this?" when he found a cell phone from the 90s like what his character used on the show.) But the gang having cell phones and tablets made it hard for me to connect to the stories -- anyone reading these comics probably was a big fan of the show and grew up during that particular time. Modern technology in it just made me feel old.
Kudos to the writers for getting Mr. Dewey 100% right. It cracked me up. You all totally missed the chance to have Max as a character though. Shame.
As for the stories, I enjoyed them all. But did they have to make Lisa so unlikable in that second story? She's my fave and I just really wanted Jessie to punch her one good time in that story. Sheesh. She was a terrible friend in that one (not that they couldn't be terrible to each other in the show occasionally because they totally were at times.)
All in all, fun and interesting. But they missed the mark a bit -- the comic wouldn't mean much to people who didn't grow up watching the show, but some of the changes made it feel totally disparate from what I grew up watching which means I didn't love it as much as I could have.
September 23, 2015
I’ve made no secret of my love of Disney and of Comics. In fact, when the two worlds merge, I get super excited. Enter Good Morning, Miss Bliss which led to Saved by the Bell. And, since Hayley Mills is the Queen of Disney, it makes sense that the first time I saw it was on the Disney Channel (probably just before or after
I’ve made no secret of my love of Disney and of Comics. In fact, when the two worlds merge, I get super excited. Enter Good Morning, Miss Bliss which led to Saved by the Bell. And, since Hayley Mills is the Queen of Disney, it makes sense that the first time I saw it was on the Disney Channel (probably just before or after MMC if I am being completely honest).
So once Miss Bliss was no more, Saved by the Bell took up its much needed slack, and all of a sudden we have Jack Morris, AC Slater, Kelly Kopowski, Jessi Spano, Lisa Turtle and Screech, with copious amounts of Mr. Belding. Enter Lion Forge’s graphic novel, Saved by the Bell. I was given an electronic copy to read in exchange for my honest review. Thanks, Lion Forge!
51wwW9W7q6L._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_Starting from AC Slater’s first day, this graphic novel takes fans of the show (as well as soon-to-be fans) through the various ins and outs of life at Bayside High School. Zack, sensing the new wrestler’s motives to be a little more than friendly toward the object of his affection, Kelly, decides to start pranking AC Slater in the best way. But, there is a little bit of blowback, and soon Zack’s best laid plans to come back to haunt him. Will he ever be able to get Kelly’s attention, or has that ship sailed with the entrance of AC Slater?
There are a few more episodes, including a fundraiser that pits guys versus girls in a cutthroat battle to win a $1000 mall gift certificate. Lisa is the fashion plate, and works at showing her skills around the school as a fashion correspondent. Jessi is her academic/extracurricular machine—the gal has it going ON! And as jocular as Slater may be, Screech shows he is the exact opposite—even when he creates a robot that becomes part of the group of friends. Kelly uses her singing as a way to get her on an American Idol-type show—which, other than Star Search, did not really exist during the time the original show aired.
That’s just a taste of what you’ll find in Lion Forge’s Saved by the Bell. I feel like the art lends itself perfectly for the time period—it is the perfect way for those who saw the show when it aired to share/bond with their kids. There are, however, updates due to the publishing date. For example, the infamous cellphone makes an appearance. If you are unsure about what the Zack Morris-era cellphone looked like—it’s here:
Personally, my favorite Bayside moment is when Jessi has a breakdown—mostly because I kept telling all my friends who didn’t have 4.2 gpas that I would be cracking a la Spano at some point, but they never believed me, but I digress.
Lion Forge is shaking up the graphic novel market by offering a true-to-air Saved by the Bell graphic novel, and it is available now in your favorite format from your favorite retailer—or give your local comic book store some love and pick it up there!
I’ve made no secret of my love of Disney and of Comics. In fact, when the two worlds merge, I get super excited. Enter Good Morning, Miss Bliss which led to Saved by the Bell. And, since Hayley Mills is the Queen of Disney, it makes sense that the first time I saw it was on the Disney Channel (probably just before or after MMC if I am being completely honest).
So once Miss Bliss was no more, Saved by the Bell took up its much needed slack, and all of a sudden we have Jack Morris, AC Slater, Kelly Kopowski, Jessi Spano, Lisa Turtle and Screech, with copious amounts of Mr. Belding. Enter Lion Forge’s graphic novel, Saved by the Bell. I was given an electronic copy to read in exchange for my honest review. Thanks, Lion Forge!
51wwW9W7q6L._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_Starting from AC Slater’s first day, this graphic novel takes fans of the show (as well as soon-to-be fans) through the various ins and outs of life at Bayside High School. Zack, sensing the new wrestler’s motives to be a little more than friendly toward the object of his affection, Kelly, decides to start pranking AC Slater in the best way. But, there is a little bit of blowback, and soon Zack’s best laid plans to come back to haunt him. Will he ever be able to get Kelly’s attention, or has that ship sailed with the entrance of AC Slater?
There are a few more episodes, including a fundraiser that pits guys versus girls in a cutthroat battle to win a $1000 mall gift certificate. Lisa is the fashion plate, and works at showing her skills around the school as a fashion correspondent. Jessi is her academic/extracurricular machine—the gal has it going ON! And as jocular as Slater may be, Screech shows he is the exact opposite—even when he creates a robot that becomes part of the group of friends. Kelly uses her singing as a way to get her on an American Idol-type show—which, other than Star Search, did not really exist during the time the original show aired.
That’s just a taste of what you’ll find in Lion Forge’s Saved by the Bell. I feel like the art lends itself perfectly for the time period—it is the perfect way for those who saw the show when it aired to share/bond with their kids. There are, however, updates due to the publishing date. For example, the infamous cellphone makes an appearance. If you are unsure about what the Zack Morris-era cellphone looked like—it’s here:
Personally, my favorite Bayside moment is when Jessi has a breakdown—mostly because I kept telling all my friends who didn’t have 4.2 gpas that I would be cracking a la Spano at some point, but they never believed me, but I digress.
Lion Forge is shaking up the graphic novel market by offering a true-to-air Saved by the Bell graphic novel, and it is available now in your favorite format from your favorite retailer—or give your local comic book store some love and pick it up there!
September 30, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I grew up watching Saved By the Bell and, because of my sister, was a Zack Morris fan (she loves Mark-Paul Gosselaar), so this graphic novel had me feeling like Jessie Spano on caffeine pills. So excited, so excited, so...scared.
What I liked:
-well, the whole concept, to be honest. I think it's really fun that they "modernized" the classic TV show for the next generation. You don't have to be a fan of the original show to enjoy the stories - they do a good job of introducing the characters, though, admittedly, if you've watched the show, you can imagine the characters' voices.
-the art is cute and quirky. Maybe not as amazing as the new Archie comics (they're adorable!), but it almost has a 1980's quality to it that fits with the story.
-the stories are short but similar to the TV show - in fact, I think a couple of the stories even share episode titles - and they all have the "lesson" or "moral" at the end.
-Slater is still a tool. Which isn't necessarily a good thing, but at least they didn't try to change his character.
-I both liked and disliked that the stories focused on other characters, instead of just Zack. Since he was the protagonist in the show, I wouldn't have minded having him as my "guide" through the graphic novel (I mean, really - they didn't even make use of his ability to freeze time!!).
What I didn't like:
-I have no idea why Kevin the Robot was such a major character when he played a minor role on the show. More than that, there were no upgrades to his appearance, so it was weird to have a very eighties robot in the middle of Bayside's class of 2015.
It's a quick read, light-hearted and fun, and it's a great way to introduce a new generation to the magical world of Bayside High where the dudes are a notch above surfers, and the cheerleaders are BFFs with feminists, and Valley students are the enemy.
I grew up watching Saved By the Bell and, because of my sister, was a Zack Morris fan (she loves Mark-Paul Gosselaar), so this graphic novel had me feeling like Jessie Spano on caffeine pills. So excited, so excited, so...scared.
What I liked:
-well, the whole concept, to be honest. I think it's really fun that they "modernized" the classic TV show for the next generation. You don't have to be a fan of the original show to enjoy the stories - they do a good job of introducing the characters, though, admittedly, if you've watched the show, you can imagine the characters' voices.
-the art is cute and quirky. Maybe not as amazing as the new Archie comics (they're adorable!), but it almost has a 1980's quality to it that fits with the story.
-the stories are short but similar to the TV show - in fact, I think a couple of the stories even share episode titles - and they all have the "lesson" or "moral" at the end.
-Slater is still a tool. Which isn't necessarily a good thing, but at least they didn't try to change his character.
-I both liked and disliked that the stories focused on other characters, instead of just Zack. Since he was the protagonist in the show, I wouldn't have minded having him as my "guide" through the graphic novel (I mean, really - they didn't even make use of his ability to freeze time!!).
What I didn't like:
-I have no idea why Kevin the Robot was such a major character when he played a minor role on the show. More than that, there were no upgrades to his appearance, so it was weird to have a very eighties robot in the middle of Bayside's class of 2015.
It's a quick read, light-hearted and fun, and it's a great way to introduce a new generation to the magical world of Bayside High where the dudes are a notch above surfers, and the cheerleaders are BFFs with feminists, and Valley students are the enemy.
September 25, 2015
I was given this title to review by NetGalley and the publishers Roar Comics in exchange for my honest review.
Fan favorite Saved by the Bell is back in this episodic graphic novel collection about Bayside’s favorite mixed bag high school crew featuring the preppy, the star athlete, the cheerleader, the nerd, the fashion diva, and the honor student. Despite a transplant from the early 90s to more modern times, many elements of this franchise remain the same: Zach and Slater are still vying for Kelly’s affection, Lisa is still repulsed by Screech’s excessive attention, and Jessie is as school and issue-focused as ever. In all eight stories, conflict inevitably ensues as the teens learn to navigate their differences and come to a place of mutual understanding. The stories, reimagined for a new targeted audience of Millenials, take place over the course of the characters’ freshman year of high school and include “Fashion Don’t,” wherein Lisa attempts to win a fashion job at Jessie’s expense, and “Screech “Super” Powers,” in which Screech is hailed as a hero after inadvertently saving Mr. Belding from a mugger. Bold lines and a tropical color scheme pay tribute to Saved by the Bell’s southern California roots, giving it a playful and vibrant feel. Seller and Clugston-Flores also manage to seamlessly inject the collection with modern touches while lightheartedly making reference to memorable moments from the show. However, despite the inclusion of similar humor, characters, and scenarios, the writing and characterization somehow manage to miss the heart of the show, with characters coming across as considerably more one-dimensional than their television counterparts. Nostalgia is enough to bring older readers to the collection but may not be enough to keep them reading past the first few stories. Luckily for younger readers, there is no need to have seen the show to follow along and enjoy it as something altogether new.
Fan favorite Saved by the Bell is back in this episodic graphic novel collection about Bayside’s favorite mixed bag high school crew featuring the preppy, the star athlete, the cheerleader, the nerd, the fashion diva, and the honor student. Despite a transplant from the early 90s to more modern times, many elements of this franchise remain the same: Zach and Slater are still vying for Kelly’s affection, Lisa is still repulsed by Screech’s excessive attention, and Jessie is as school and issue-focused as ever. In all eight stories, conflict inevitably ensues as the teens learn to navigate their differences and come to a place of mutual understanding. The stories, reimagined for a new targeted audience of Millenials, take place over the course of the characters’ freshman year of high school and include “Fashion Don’t,” wherein Lisa attempts to win a fashion job at Jessie’s expense, and “Screech “Super” Powers,” in which Screech is hailed as a hero after inadvertently saving Mr. Belding from a mugger. Bold lines and a tropical color scheme pay tribute to Saved by the Bell’s southern California roots, giving it a playful and vibrant feel. Seller and Clugston-Flores also manage to seamlessly inject the collection with modern touches while lightheartedly making reference to memorable moments from the show. However, despite the inclusion of similar humor, characters, and scenarios, the writing and characterization somehow manage to miss the heart of the show, with characters coming across as considerably more one-dimensional than their television counterparts. Nostalgia is enough to bring older readers to the collection but may not be enough to keep them reading past the first few stories. Luckily for younger readers, there is no need to have seen the show to follow along and enjoy it as something altogether new.
January 18, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Growing up in the 90’s, I was a huge fan of Saved by the Bell. What girl wasn’t in love with Zack Morris or A.C. Slater? Who didn’t want to be Kelly, Jessie or Lisa?
When I saw there was a new SBTB comic on NetGalley I was super excited to rejoin the gang, but in modern times with cell phones and the Internet.
... Then I started reading.
The first couple of story lines (‘Zack to School’ & ‘Fashion Don’t’) in the comic were, to put it bluntly, lame. They seemed dated and boring to me, I felt like I was back in the 90’s. As much as I loved the 90’s and SBTB, I look back now and realize how cheesy things were.
I forced myself to keep reading and by the end of the comic book I found that while things started off on the lame side, they picked up by the end. I caught myself laughing at Zack’s schemes.
My favorite story lines were ‘Screech-A-Date’ (Screech designs an online dating program for Bayside High), ‘Cheers & Jeers’ (Slater joins the cheerleading squad!), and ‘A Bad Note’ (Kelly tries out for an American Idol type show, but Screech and his robot Kevin get selected instead!)
My biggest problem with this comic is that Screech is too handsome. Just look at the cover, why does Screech have such a winning smile? Sure, he’s dressed like the dork he is, but he even makes that hairstyle look pretty good. Comic Screech should be just as dorky as TV show Screech.
In full disclosure, I’m not a huge comic book fan. I enjoy my daughters My Little Pony comics, but I don’t go out of my way to read comics. I likely won’t read any more SBTB comics if they come out with them, and I do encourage SBTB fans to check this out for the nostalgia.
Growing up in the 90’s, I was a huge fan of Saved by the Bell. What girl wasn’t in love with Zack Morris or A.C. Slater? Who didn’t want to be Kelly, Jessie or Lisa?
When I saw there was a new SBTB comic on NetGalley I was super excited to rejoin the gang, but in modern times with cell phones and the Internet.
... Then I started reading.
The first couple of story lines (‘Zack to School’ & ‘Fashion Don’t’) in the comic were, to put it bluntly, lame. They seemed dated and boring to me, I felt like I was back in the 90’s. As much as I loved the 90’s and SBTB, I look back now and realize how cheesy things were.
I forced myself to keep reading and by the end of the comic book I found that while things started off on the lame side, they picked up by the end. I caught myself laughing at Zack’s schemes.
My favorite story lines were ‘Screech-A-Date’ (Screech designs an online dating program for Bayside High), ‘Cheers & Jeers’ (Slater joins the cheerleading squad!), and ‘A Bad Note’ (Kelly tries out for an American Idol type show, but Screech and his robot Kevin get selected instead!)
My biggest problem with this comic is that Screech is too handsome. Just look at the cover, why does Screech have such a winning smile? Sure, he’s dressed like the dork he is, but he even makes that hairstyle look pretty good. Comic Screech should be just as dorky as TV show Screech.
In full disclosure, I’m not a huge comic book fan. I enjoy my daughters My Little Pony comics, but I don’t go out of my way to read comics. I likely won’t read any more SBTB comics if they come out with them, and I do encourage SBTB fans to check this out for the nostalgia.
September 10, 2015
I must admit, that I would love to get more into graphic novels and comics, and while normally this is aimed at a younger audience than me, I couldn't resist reading this volume of 'Saved by the Bell' comics. I LOVED this show when I was younger, even 'the new class' that came after Zack and co. - though obviously my childhood crush on Zack obviously means that the original cast were the best :D
While this is nostalgic, it is bought up to date with the huge mobile phones of the past replaced with the slim touchscreen phones you see today, ready for the characters to blog, vlog and use social media, just like we do today. In fact one of the funniest moments in the book is when Zack scoffs at the size of the brick mobile phones from the 80/90's, which may not seem funny in itself but was a nod to the TV series, where Zack Morris himself had such a phone!
The characters are exactly as they should be and while the old references and knowledge of the show are wonderful, the stories are funny in themselves. The artwork is stylish, colourful and vibrant, really popping out from the page.
Each comic is short and sweet, packed full of humour and keeps the essence of what made the show one of my favourites from that time. If you're my age and hadn't watched the show when it was originally on, then you may not get the same enjoyment I did, but if you enjoyed the show, or are a young teenager, then this is a great collection of comics that is perfect for a fun read, that is a great alternative to a short story. This book brings back such great memories; I really really enjoyed it.
While this is nostalgic, it is bought up to date with the huge mobile phones of the past replaced with the slim touchscreen phones you see today, ready for the characters to blog, vlog and use social media, just like we do today. In fact one of the funniest moments in the book is when Zack scoffs at the size of the brick mobile phones from the 80/90's, which may not seem funny in itself but was a nod to the TV series, where Zack Morris himself had such a phone!
The characters are exactly as they should be and while the old references and knowledge of the show are wonderful, the stories are funny in themselves. The artwork is stylish, colourful and vibrant, really popping out from the page.
Each comic is short and sweet, packed full of humour and keeps the essence of what made the show one of my favourites from that time. If you're my age and hadn't watched the show when it was originally on, then you may not get the same enjoyment I did, but if you enjoyed the show, or are a young teenager, then this is a great collection of comics that is perfect for a fun read, that is a great alternative to a short story. This book brings back such great memories; I really really enjoyed it.
October 5, 2015
Somehow it feels like we'll get all the old teen shows back as comics...Saved By the Bell comic isn't all that bad, really. It consists of shorter episodes or so to speak and is a warm nostalgia trip to those who once saw it on TV. I was too young at that time and I don't know if we ever had this in Finland. It's Bayside High all over again and it's about a group of friends, Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie, who sail through school days with a modern twist. The stories in themselves aren't that miraculous and basically follow a joke or humorous events. Even if the series is modernized, the kids don't use phones and media enough to be credible portrayal of teens. I didn't get the whole robot thing either, though I don't know if it was in the original series or not. Some of the story lines felt childish and stupid even and some of them worked better. The whole thing was nothing memorable though.
The art is like that of the 1990s with bright colors and Barbie-like style altogether. The art looks something that could appeal to younger kids, but the high school setting then don't do that to the same age group. For adults this feels like a silly nostalgia trip, but is that enough? To whom was this really meant? And do we get Blossom, My So Called Life and Boy Meets World next too? All in all this feels like some people wanted to make money by reselling an old thing in a new wrapper.
The art is like that of the 1990s with bright colors and Barbie-like style altogether. The art looks something that could appeal to younger kids, but the high school setting then don't do that to the same age group. For adults this feels like a silly nostalgia trip, but is that enough? To whom was this really meant? And do we get Blossom, My So Called Life and Boy Meets World next too? All in all this feels like some people wanted to make money by reselling an old thing in a new wrapper.
September 28, 2015
***I was provided a e-arc copy from netgalley.com and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thought and opinions are my own***
It is a recent trend in comics to take a TV show and spin it into a new comic book series and I will be the first to say that I love where this is going.
Saved by the Bell was a TV series on in the 90s about a California high school and a certain group of friends in this school who were all very different but were always getting along and getting into mischief.
This first volume was like watching a series of episodes come alive on the page. It felt so authentic to the original TV show that it really made me appreciate these authors and what they did. I thought the stories were great and the characters all had similar thoughts and values to the ones on the show. Lisa still loves fashion but now she vlog's about it, Slater is still a jock, Jesse still a badass feminist, Kelly is still lusted after as the girl next door, and Zack is still the handsome goof who is always getting into trouble. And Screech is still Screech. I loved that his robot from some of the TV episodes made an appearance and they kept him as the nerdy but computer savvy character who just wants a date.
If you loved the TV show than I definitely think this will both entertain you and bring back lots of fond memories. I would suggest it to fans of the show and fans of fun brightly illustrated comics about high school students.
It is a recent trend in comics to take a TV show and spin it into a new comic book series and I will be the first to say that I love where this is going.
Saved by the Bell was a TV series on in the 90s about a California high school and a certain group of friends in this school who were all very different but were always getting along and getting into mischief.
This first volume was like watching a series of episodes come alive on the page. It felt so authentic to the original TV show that it really made me appreciate these authors and what they did. I thought the stories were great and the characters all had similar thoughts and values to the ones on the show. Lisa still loves fashion but now she vlog's about it, Slater is still a jock, Jesse still a badass feminist, Kelly is still lusted after as the girl next door, and Zack is still the handsome goof who is always getting into trouble. And Screech is still Screech. I loved that his robot from some of the TV episodes made an appearance and they kept him as the nerdy but computer savvy character who just wants a date.
If you loved the TV show than I definitely think this will both entertain you and bring back lots of fond memories. I would suggest it to fans of the show and fans of fun brightly illustrated comics about high school students.
October 1, 2015
Saved by the Bell Comic book was a quick enjoyable read. Sadly I have not see the classic TV show (But it’s on my watch list) I figured this book would be a way to kind of dip into the world. I thought that this would be on long story but it wasn’t there was about eight or nine short stories. All basted around the six main character. The only problem I have with this was there was now real couples. And two of the stories was based on the of the main characters, two of the guys trying to get Kelly. My favorite character would have to of been Jessie we kinda see through the same eyes.My favorite story in this I think would have to be the cheerleading and how it’s a spot. (I believe it is. My sister was a cheerleading in High School and she had to put in long hours and lots of work.)
The art is amazing. The bright colors brought the characters to life. Each character has their own style. The style of the world and the layout made reading all the better!
I also enjoy how this was based on a 80's -90's TV but updated into today’s world. The cell phones, tables, laptops, video internet website, ect. But the style and the feel of it has that 80's -90's hit to it.
Over all I enjoy this quick read and hope fans of the TV show or of fans of 80's -90's will enjoy this book!
The art is amazing. The bright colors brought the characters to life. Each character has their own style. The style of the world and the layout made reading all the better!
I also enjoy how this was based on a 80's -90's TV but updated into today’s world. The cell phones, tables, laptops, video internet website, ect. But the style and the feel of it has that 80's -90's hit to it.
Over all I enjoy this quick read and hope fans of the TV show or of fans of 80's -90's will enjoy this book!
March 18, 2021
It's as cheesy as the show; I loved it!
I am a child of the 90's so I was/am beyond a huge fan of Saved By the Bell.
(It's also what I blame when I say high school wasn't what I imagined. But that's another story.)
It was a favorite part of my life growing up; I could never get enough and carried those characters with me. (This was before I invested my time on fictional characters from books.)
Enter so many years later- really it's probably only been a year since I've seen any episodes- and it's now in book form.
Brought into the current era!
Although, really, half the fun of watching now is seeing the 90's styles. And of course Zack's giant cell phone.
He was so cool with that thing!
I don't know if the stories in this book would be typical Saved by the Bell story lines, I never thought things could get anymore wholesome at Bayside, but these eight stories proved that they could be.
But that was the fun part about them.
I loved getting new stories with characters I already knew and loved.
There's no going back to the original but this definitely takes me back in a fun new way.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I am a child of the 90's so I was/am beyond a huge fan of Saved By the Bell.
(It's also what I blame when I say high school wasn't what I imagined. But that's another story.)
It was a favorite part of my life growing up; I could never get enough and carried those characters with me. (This was before I invested my time on fictional characters from books.)
Enter so many years later- really it's probably only been a year since I've seen any episodes- and it's now in book form.
Brought into the current era!
Although, really, half the fun of watching now is seeing the 90's styles. And of course Zack's giant cell phone.
He was so cool with that thing!
I don't know if the stories in this book would be typical Saved by the Bell story lines, I never thought things could get anymore wholesome at Bayside, but these eight stories proved that they could be.
But that was the fun part about them.
I loved getting new stories with characters I already knew and loved.
There's no going back to the original but this definitely takes me back in a fun new way.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 1, 2015
Posted originally on my blog:
The Writer's Inkwell
More than twenty years since it last aired, this Saved by the Bell comic breathes new life into one of my favorite shows from childhood. Quirky and cute, the stories have been a bit modernized and yet, they have managed to retain their wholesome charm and appeal. Slater and Jessie still have arguments about the sexes not being treated equally. Screech is still obsessing over Lisa, who practically turns green at the mention of him. And of course, Zack is willing to scheme, lie, cheat and manipulate anyone and any situation to snuggle up closer to his dream girl, Kelly.
It's a nice way to revisit the halls of Bayside High and if I get a chance, I look forward to seeing more. Though not the greatest comic ever, this one definitely earns four stars for nostalgia alone.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Writer's Inkwell
More than twenty years since it last aired, this Saved by the Bell comic breathes new life into one of my favorite shows from childhood. Quirky and cute, the stories have been a bit modernized and yet, they have managed to retain their wholesome charm and appeal. Slater and Jessie still have arguments about the sexes not being treated equally. Screech is still obsessing over Lisa, who practically turns green at the mention of him. And of course, Zack is willing to scheme, lie, cheat and manipulate anyone and any situation to snuggle up closer to his dream girl, Kelly.
It's a nice way to revisit the halls of Bayside High and if I get a chance, I look forward to seeing more. Though not the greatest comic ever, this one definitely earns four stars for nostalgia alone.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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