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Varmints
Opie and Ned are adrift in the Old West, searching for the man who shot their Ma. These two youngsters only have each other, but with all their squabbling it's a miracle they still have that.
When they get wind of the mysterious Pa ("crime kingpin of the West!"), Opie and Ned suddenly have something new: a mission. But tracking down the elusive (and deadly) Pa is going to take all the wiles these two kids have, and some new friends to boot.
Clever, explosive, and deeply moving by turns, Varmints is a perfect middle-grade comedy graphic novel. Hirsch brings an old-school Western style to bear on a story full of nuance, humor, and surprises.
When they get wind of the mysterious Pa ("crime kingpin of the West!"), Opie and Ned suddenly have something new: a mission. But tracking down the elusive (and deadly) Pa is going to take all the wiles these two kids have, and some new friends to boot.
Clever, explosive, and deeply moving by turns, Varmints is a perfect middle-grade comedy graphic novel. Hirsch brings an old-school Western style to bear on a story full of nuance, humor, and surprises.
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Andy Hirsch
89 books25 followersAndy Hirsch is a cartoonist living in Dallas, Texas. He is the author and artist of a stack of entries in hit series Science Comics from First Second Books, covering topics from dogs to geology to outer space. His most recent book, Good Boy, follows a mismatched boy and his dog as they overcome obstacles from bar jumps to anxiety dreams in the exciting world of canine sports. His work is consistently selected by the Junior Library Guild and has appeared on the American Library Association's Best Graphic Novels for Children reading list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 3, 2017
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.
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.
June 12, 2016
*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!
Read
January 26, 2017Graded 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.
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.
September 27, 2016
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.
August 18, 2017
Young Ned and his sister Opie are on the hunt for their Pa. Only Opie knows that their father is also the illusive criminal kingpin known as PA. As they search for their missing patriarch, the siblings undertake a number of exciting adventures involving giants, horse rustlers, and a thrilling cross-country race in which the winning gets an exclusive face-to-face meeting with PA!
This book was awesome. Science Comics' Andy Hirsch did such a magnificient job on this all-ages graphic novel by First Second. The story was excellent and very funny and yet poignant at all the appropriate times. Extremely original while mixing in iconic elements from the Old West, Varmints would have ranked on my top of 2016 list if I had found this book in time. But that's okay- better late than never.
The thing I loved the most about this book is the artwork. Back in the 80s and 90s, animator Don Bluth was killing it with such films like An American Tail and the Land Before Time. His flowing style of humor, heart, and song was all the rage in family animated features both with and without Disney.
Varmints feels like a Don Bluth film. In fact, if Bluth's studios with FOX Animation doesn't pick up this book and turn it into a movie, they missed out. Hirsch's artwork jumps off the page. Look at the cover, it appears that Ned and Opie are about to leap off the cover and land in the reader's lap. And there's dozens of amazing spreads just like this cover or even better.
I really am in love with this book. The characters are memorable, especially the animals, like Maggie the burro whom Ned is tricked into buying for the big race. I don't think I will ever forget this book and I hope you readers won't either. Plus, I would not be opposed to a sequel or two detailing more adventures of Ned and Opie.
Top notch excitement that broken into small chapters for easy read and a very fast pace of action!
This book was awesome. Science Comics' Andy Hirsch did such a magnificient job on this all-ages graphic novel by First Second. The story was excellent and very funny and yet poignant at all the appropriate times. Extremely original while mixing in iconic elements from the Old West, Varmints would have ranked on my top of 2016 list if I had found this book in time. But that's okay- better late than never.
The thing I loved the most about this book is the artwork. Back in the 80s and 90s, animator Don Bluth was killing it with such films like An American Tail and the Land Before Time. His flowing style of humor, heart, and song was all the rage in family animated features both with and without Disney.
Varmints feels like a Don Bluth film. In fact, if Bluth's studios with FOX Animation doesn't pick up this book and turn it into a movie, they missed out. Hirsch's artwork jumps off the page. Look at the cover, it appears that Ned and Opie are about to leap off the cover and land in the reader's lap. And there's dozens of amazing spreads just like this cover or even better.
I really am in love with this book. The characters are memorable, especially the animals, like Maggie the burro whom Ned is tricked into buying for the big race. I don't think I will ever forget this book and I hope you readers won't either. Plus, I would not be opposed to a sequel or two detailing more adventures of Ned and Opie.
Top notch excitement that broken into small chapters for easy read and a very fast pace of action!
May 22, 2017
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.
August 23, 2021
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.
May 18, 2017
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.
September 9, 2021
Opie and Ned, brother and sister, are crossing the wild west looking for their Pa after their ma dies. Opie looks after younger Ned who doesn't see danger, is wide eyed and happy but causes worry for Opie. They run into trouble everywhere They fight like siblings do but have each others backs. A fun romp with "bad" men, shoot outs, chases and even songs. Great coloring making the dirty, dusty desert look vibrant and full of color. Dialog seems real with sarcasm, humor, caring and arguing. Clean drawing style, crisp lines. I enjoyed reading this graphic novel.
September 26, 2017
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.
December 30, 2025
Two orphans in the wild west set off in search of their outlaw father, and wild shenanigans ensue. The art is great and has a sort of retro Sunday morning comics vibe to it, but the story often meanders a bit too much for my taste. Still, this was a quick, fun read.
March 11, 2017
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.
July 18, 2017
My 6 y.o. is very much into graphic novels right now and mostly reads them to himself, but he likes me to read him the ones that are more difficult. This one was fun.
March 12, 2018
It kind of sad when the brother found out about the dad
July 27, 2019
I loved every single second of this.
December 22, 2019
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.
April 28, 2020
Cute adventure tale. Extra star for some truly funny blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments in the writing.
Want to read
April 17, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 19, 2022
3.5 stars.
May 14, 2016
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.
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.
April 12, 2016
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.
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.
February 7, 2017
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.
December 29, 2016
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.
March 9, 2016
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.
September 11, 2017
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.
June 21, 2016
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-publications
September 27, 2016Our 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!
December 16, 2016
Graphic novel with arguing siblings. Not my favorite characters even though the story was decent enough.
January 11, 2017
Pretty cute - certainly seems like there are more adventures in store.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews