Pinky & Stinky

by James Kochalka

Pinky and Stinky are fat little piglets, but because they're cuties that doesn't mean they're not brave astronauts. Packed with action, adventure, and little cuties.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Humor, Space, Graphic Novels Comics, Sequential Art

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal. Largely autobiographical, Kochalka's cartoon expression of the world around him includes such real-life characters as his wife, children, cat, friends and colleagues, but always filtered through his own observations and flights of whimsy. In March 2011 he will be declared the cartoonist laureate of Vermont, serving a term of two years.

Reviews

[Jan Philipzig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinky and Stinky are two fat little piglets. They are also two astronauts on a mission to become the first piglets on Pluto. And last but not least, they're cuties, too. Which is what saves them when the going gets tough and they have to crash land on the Moon. You see, the Moon Princess realizes just in time that they are cute and should thus not be thrown into the dungeon, and Pinky and Stinky return the favor by saving the Moon Princess from the oppressive American Space Program - hooray for our fat little astronaut piglets!

Pinky & Stinky is Kochalka at his very best! The story of the survival of innocence and idealism in an often ruthless and cruel world may have been told many times before, but rarely as effectively as in this case. Kochalka’s vision is pure magic, highlighting the courage it takes to keep an open mind and do the right thing. Essential reading for anybody not yet lost to the Dark Side!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might have actually given this two stars, but am shamed by Jan's five star review challenging those of us "who have not yet gone over to the Dark Side." Okay, maybe I must have been there, because this felt initially just typical Kochalka-cute, and yet another of the hundreds of the children's books with the (cute) name Pinky in the title. But the two little piglet astronauts made me smile, there on Pluto, stranded, facing moon-creatures and jealous astronauts. The publisher's own description uses the word "cute" at least twice, Kochalka uses the word a few times in the text (the pigs know they are cuties…) and the book cover uses the word "adorable" so you see what they were going for here. But the reason for the third star is the edge that Kochalka manages to slip into the tone once in awhile, and the fourth.... Jan, I guess! I'll admit it, in spite of all I say above, I smiled quite a bit at the silliness. Jan (and the piggies) save the day!

[Dov Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read and there's nothing spectacularly amazing about it, but there is also no reason I can think of not to read it. It's funny, and very well done. The opening is great, the concept great, the art great. Kochalka has a unique cartoonish style that in seemingly simple strokes gets to the heart of the cuteness and the drama.

Drama: Two talking pigs, Pinky and Stinky, are on a special mission to Pluto and crash land on the moon.

The pigs are a classic comic duo, PInky's sort of no nonsense and grumpy and Stinky is silly, cheerful, adventurous.

There is an interesting relationship dynamic between the pigs and two different moon astronauts. One is a total jerk, the story's bad guy. The other is a nice, helpful dude. And yet they're part of the same astronaut squad, and they don't ever have a conflict with each other. Which is strange. I mean, in terms of narrative set-up, it's a little off the beaten path, which is nice.

And I don't know that this is meant to be a series, but I hope it is! I'd be happy to go on another adventure with these pigs.

My only complaint: as far as I can tell, all dudes in this story but one princess. Kind of annoying.

[Matt Graupman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love James Kochalka's "American Elf" diary comics! His years and years of chronicling the minutiae of his daily life in (usually) four panels easily ranks as one of the greatest achievements in comics. It's an unqualified five-star masterpiece! His other work? The Superfuckers series, the Glorkian Warrior books, his Johnny Boo stuff, and this book, "Pinky & Stinky?" Well, I think I've come to the conclusion that I'll always find James Kochalka's non-"American Elf" work to be just shy of brilliance; they're reliably fresh, cute without being cloying, and impeccably illustrated, but lacking that extra little spark that would make them true classics.

Pinky and Stinky are adorable little piglets who happen to be astronauts, headed to Pluto on a dangerous mission, when their rocket crash lands on the Moon and they become entangled in a battle between mean NASA men and the inhabitants of the Moon. So, a totally "normal" James Kochalka scenario. I mean, obviously, Kochalka has one of the all-time great creative minds; his stuff is always so quirky and unique, with an undercurrent of menace and a sprinkling of sweetness. What impressed me about this book, though - one of his earlier works - is how animated his lines look, sometimes verging on a cartoon-y combo of Moebius and the "Bone" series. It's definitely some of his most vibrant and detailed art.

Creative types are always bemoaning being typecast but I think, in the case of James Kochalka, that's not necessarily a bad thing. When I pick up one of his books, I know what to expect: fun characters bickering at one another, some truly bizarre obstacles, and a genuine gleefulness that leaves me smiling after the last page. "Pinky & Stinky" certainly did.

[Immigration Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this an innocent children's book that is a mixture of "Star Wars and Pokemon," featuring two cute little piglet astronauts on their way to Pluto (with an unscheduled stop on the Moon) . . . Or, is it a metaphor for the gratuitous oppression of colonial powers exploiting the natural resources and subjugating a people in far flung places like the African Continent, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and the Caribbean?

And, if the Moon people represent the oppressed colonists, and the mean-spirited human U.S. Astronauts building pipelines and displacing colonists are the oppressors, then who are the good-guy, cutie-pie, little piglets? Did colonialism ever have a "good-guy" as part of the story?

Or, are the cutie-pie little piglets the "good guys of colonialism" that the World has never had?

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is a very quick read I would recommend to kids ages 7-13 who like comics, adventure, or animals. It's an adventure tale about two pig astronauts. At first they have a Pinky and the Brain dynamic, but that meanness disappears when they are forced to work together when they crash land on the moon. It's a nice comic for kids that have read everything else I have on the shelf to recommend. I'm only giving in three stars since the story and characters are simple. This book is not bad, but it's also not great.

[Kayla Boerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was super cute and funny. I loved the interactions between pinky and sitnky because they have such distinct personalities. This book was a short little read but very action-packed. I think this would be a great book for kids who have a very active minds and imaginations. The only thing I wish is that it had colored illustrations.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute enough little story for kids. Some of the people are really mean to the piglets, kicking and throwing them which is a bit disturbing. Why are these grown men so threatened by piglets? I'm not sure. Astronauts are the villains in this story, not the heroes so that might be an issue for some kids. The art is simple and clear and the colouring felt basic.

[Michael Rudzki · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Kochalka never fails to charm with his books.

Pinky & Stinky are two little pig-stronauts sent on a historic and exciting mission to Pluto. They encounter some trouble with an asteroid and end up crashing on the moon. There they meet some astronauts and end up in more peril!

Fun for all ages!

[halenka .⋆☾⋆˚₊✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable. would have been 5 stars if more resolution at the end, but it took about twenty minutes to read and was supper cute!

[Savannah Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great graphic novel for beginner students.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute!

[Tim Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly violent. And the human astronauts are not nice at all. A story of bigotry and naked imperialism.

[Ophelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I connect spiritually with Stinky.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyably weird. would have liked more adventures!

[Michelé · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second half was fun but I felt like both the human and Pinky were mean for no reason. That humor didn't land for me.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say how proud I am of juvenile graphic novels right now! Jellaby and Owly were stand-outs for me, and really opened my eyes to how great this form of book can be for any age group, but especially elementary and middle school readers who may prefer comic books to novels. It’s a happy medium that is truly happy (and perfect.) Now, I have read some duds, but I’m glad to say Pinky & Stinky stands out. It’s not as good as Jellaby, but it’s definitely a close relative of Owly and is pretty near to being on par with that series.

This adorable and witty book focuses on Pinky and Stinky, two astronaut pigs who are traveling through space. They make a good team, though sometimes it is hard to tell them apart because A) they’re two adorable pigs and B) their personalities are only slightly different. Pinky is slightly sweeter and more sensitive than Stinky is… or maybe that’s vice versa… anyway, I honestly don’t think it even matters who’s who. They’re both brave and moral pigs trying to do their country justice by traveling the solar system. They run into trouble when some human astronauts take offense to pigs bothering their important business. One of the astronauts kicks one of the pigs in delight and says, “Ha ha! Your fat jiggles!” Obviously not a nice guy! So the pigs and the astronauts cross paths later on in a world of moon creatures where they are all seen as enemies and sent away to an ice dungeon. The pigs, being adorable and sweet, are rescued by the alien princess and taken in as her “Cuties” to live on her bed with her stuffed animals (I assume those are stuffed…) The astronauts end up ruffling more feathers and battle ensues. The Cuties are saved and go on to make peace with everyone and continue on their space journey.

It’s a cute and clever book appropriate for kids 8 and up, though I think older people like me can appreciate more of the subtle humor. I don’t know if there will be a sequel or series of Pinky & Stinky books, but I guess one can only hope. They are cute pigs on a mission to warm your cockles, and it’s 100% mission accomplished with me.

Taken from my blog: http://libchickreads.wordpress.com/

[Arminzerella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pinky & Stinky are two piglets who are on a mission to Pluto. They’ve been sent up into space by the US government. An asteroid hits their shuttle and they’re forced to crash land on the moon. Pinky falls into a deep depression because he believes their mission is over, but Stinky calmly collects all of their gear and pulls them to Moon Base Five, where they encounter some human astronauts who are on a mission of their own. That’s when Pinky & Stinky discover that the humans are terrorizing the actual moon denizens – melting their city and harvesting their water. The piglets and the humans are all captured by the moon people and their king throws them into his black ice dungeon. The piglets are rescued by the moon princess, who thinks they are irresistibly cute, and the human astronauts follow them out – attacking the princess and her city as they leave. The piglets save the princess and receive a reward (space ship repairs and a big party in their honor) and the other astronauts are punished for their crimes.

Cute story and illustrations (blue ink on white background). Pinky is the more serious of the piglets, but Stinky (although he’s not the brightest) is surprisingly unflappable and resourceful and makes a good foil. This is a little goofy, but kids will enjoy it. Not a lot of substance for more sophisticated readers. The moon people all look like little cyclopic waving hands. Hee! One of my teen comic fans said, “This is HILARIOUS!” We do not really have the same taste AT ALL. 

[Bix · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This graphic novel about two astronaut piglets whose mission goes awry when they accidentally crash land on the moon is drawn in a charmingly simple style that still manages to convey expressions, particularly those of our porcine heroes. Jam-packed with adventure, as Pinky and Stinky must find a way to outwit their fellow astronauts and save the Moon Princess. Kids ages 5 and up will love Pinky & Stinky."

CIP: "Pinky & Stinky are fat little piglets, but just because they're cuties doesn't mean that they're not brave astronauts! When they embark on a daring mission to be the first pigs on Pluto, things go horribly wrong and they crash land on the moon. There they meet some not-so-friendly moon men, and end up in the middle of a conflict between the American space program and a race of alien ice creatures. This is an unabashedly fun book, like Star Wars mixed with Pokemon -- if you can believe that! Packed with action, adventure, and cute little cuties!"

This book hasn't been reviewed by either SLJ or Kirkus (or any other major reviewer that I was able to find), but here's a review from the blog Comics Worth Reading:

"For those who... appreciate [Kochalka’s] fluid lines and simple design... there’s humor and sadness and adventure and clever inventiveness and a statement against piglet bias, all in his unique style."

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is by the author of my favorite Johnny Boo but it has nothing of the flair or humor of those. This is also a long book for children - 200 pages. It involves two pigs, Pinky and Stinky, who are on a super special mission to Pluto. However, they nick an asteroid and land on the Moon where there is a base with human astronauts. The two pigs manage to free the captive moon princess and save the moon kingdom from the bad astronaut and continue on their way to Pluto. It's a bit hard to explain because Kochalka doesn't really follow up on much. There is one astronaut that hates the pigs and plays nasty tricks on them, but the other astronauts treat them fine. There's no followup on how or whether the pigs get revenge for this. Also, the bad astronaut leads the others in an attack on the moon city, but the others let him. There is no reason for them to be on his side - no treasure, no threats, etc. And finally, when Pinky and Stinky get their spaceship repaired and go on their way, there is no punishment for the astronauts who attacked the city. All in all, a really disappointing effort from Kochalka.

[Cara Hanson]

Awards: none

Grade Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Summary: Pinky and Stinky are pigs-turned astronauts on the moon, who find themselves involved in a battle between astronauts and moon men!

Review: Pinky and Stinky's adventures reference the theme of learning to believe in yourself and do what's right. The book is presented as a graphic novel, which is an engaging format especially for hesitant readers.

Classroom uses: The characters in this book are strongly developed, and are excellent subjects for study. The book can also be used to introduce young children to the genre of books which is known as graphic novels.

[Liz W4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinky and Stinky is about two pigs that have a mission to be the first animals on Pluto. They are traveling and crash into the moon were there is astronauts working. But what will happen? Read the book to find out. This comic kept me on the edge of my seat. The only weakness it had was that I wanted a colored comic, but I got over that. Pinky and Stinky's strengths were the book was so funny, had a great story, and I love the illustrations. I recommend it to fun loving kids who love to sit down and read a comic.

[Jamie Felton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really sweet/silly graphic novel about two cute pigs who are sent to Pluto on a mission for the government, but instead they crash on the moon and discover an underground kingdom. It's kind of adorable, and James Kochalka's drawings are so perfect for this kind of story. This is the kind of thing I'd read if I was sitting on the bus and needed something really light and entertaining.

[Roderick Mcgillis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suspect this graphic novel might appeal to the quote young reader. And this is great. It is sort of Pigs Meet Merciless Emperor Ming on the Moon, reminiscent of the Flash Gordon serials. And so for me the action was familiar, and a bit hackneyed. The art is bold, but not particularly noteworthy. All in all, not my cup of tea. (I do like the Flash Gordon serials.)

[Wes Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uber-cute piggies on a mission to pluto crash land on the moon and have to put up with assholish American astronauts. Also includes some rather rad moon creatures. Did I mention the pigs are uber-cute?

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading it with my son, and it's pretty action packed. Not sure if it's great for a 3 year old, but he's really enjoying it. I have to explain a lot. He really likes all the falling that poor Stinky and Pinky endure.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some day my students are going to grow up and remember this book. And google it. And find the author's dirty adult comics.

They also really like his book "Peanut Butter and Jeremy" about a hat wearing cat and a drunk crow.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, cute, and very well done. I read this aloud to a group of second and third graders and they were absolutely enthralled by the tale of these two cuties!

There's action, there's robots, there's hilarious proper English, it's a good one!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two pigs on a space mission to Pluto crash-land on the moon. They must escape numerous enemies and repair their rocket ship. Simple story. Large panels. Good for very young readers. No underlying message.

[Kent Kleinowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute graphic novel about two pigs and their space adventure. A fun light read good for all ages. The art work is minimalistic and clean.