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Cosmic Commandos
In this graphic novel adventure for readers of Hilo and Roller Girl, a pair of twin brothers accidentally bring their favorite video game to life and now they have to find a way to work together to defeat it.
Jeremy and Justin are twins, but they couldn t be any more different from each other. Jeremy is a risk taker who likes to get his hands dirty; Justin prefers to read, focus, and get all his facts straight before jumping in. But they do have one important thing in common: They both love video games. When Jeremy wins a cereal-box charm that brings his favorite video game to life, villains and all, he finds that he s in way over his head. Justin knows everything there is to know about the rules of the game he read the handbook, of course and Jeremy isn t afraid to try new things. Can these two mismatched brothers work together to beat the video game that has become their life?"
Jeremy and Justin are twins, but they couldn t be any more different from each other. Jeremy is a risk taker who likes to get his hands dirty; Justin prefers to read, focus, and get all his facts straight before jumping in. But they do have one important thing in common: They both love video games. When Jeremy wins a cereal-box charm that brings his favorite video game to life, villains and all, he finds that he s in way over his head. Justin knows everything there is to know about the rules of the game he read the handbook, of course and Jeremy isn t afraid to try new things. Can these two mismatched brothers work together to beat the video game that has become their life?"
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2017
36 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 4, 2020
Somewhere between an homage to Calvin & Hobbes and actually just ripping off Calvin & Hobbes.
June 25, 2017
it has potential. I can see what kind of kid I'm going to recommend it to, and they are gonna love it!
July 11, 2017
Identical twins Jeremy and Justin couldn't be more different. Jeremy is impulsive and action oriented. Justin is thoughtful and a bit nerdy. Jeremy wants his brother to leave him alone, especially, to "stop looking like [him]." When Jeremy finds that a cereal box decoder ring gives him powers, and that Cosmic Commandos video game baddies are coming to life, he assumes that he'll win on his own. As the game gets harder and Jeremy struggles to beat the evil Skorn at increasingly difficult levels, he also fights against the help his brother offers him, until too much is at stake. A humorous and appealing drama between brothers, as well as a battle of good vs evil. I love that the book cover is modelled on a cereal box, promising "whole grain excitement," "8 essental zarks and ba-dooms" and "2,304 laughs." Funny and action-packed, with great bold illustrations and lots of great Batman comics-like onomatopeia.
December 27, 2019
Not terrible, but certainly not the best Middle Grade comic I've read. Jeremy was a jerk and for a good part of the beginning I couldn't help but think of Goofus & Gallant.
August 30, 2017
Fun graphic novel for kids who like superheroes and/or video games. Also includes important messages about team work and the importance of appreciating each other's strengths. For grades 2 & up.
June 1, 2018
Definitely a kids' book! I saw a nice review from Patton Oswalt on the cover after my son read it and thought I'd give it a go. Just not for me, but my 10-year-old loves it and hopes the author publishes more!
December 11, 2018
Although this is the first book in the series, I read it second. I think I would have liked it better had I read this first. While cute and fun, the sibling rivalry was too over-the-top and there were entirely too many really obvious references to Calvin and Hobbes scenarios. That said, the art just pops: it's cute and bright and bold and energetic. The story itself was engaging enough but repetitive, continually hammering on the point that these two brothers DO NOT get along and are complete opposites in EVERY WAY. Troubled Superhero Brother endlessly rejects all offers of friendship and help from the Popular Nerd Brother, which just becomes tiresome. The overall package was fun, but needed a little tightening up.
The second installment (Monster Mayhem) fixed all those things for me, so I'm really excited to see if there's more in this series.
The second installment (Monster Mayhem) fixed all those things for me, so I'm really excited to see if there's more in this series.
July 15, 2019
This is a really weird book... it was heart warming and probably the most random book ever...
September 9, 2017
Life is so very hard for Justin. His parents make him do his homework instead of playing video games. His teacher wants him to do his best in school. And his twin brother, Jeremy, not only looks just like him but loves him and wants to spend quality time with him as well. But all of that's going to change when Justin finds a magic ring in his box of cereal.
The ring will grant any wish. Since Justin wants to play video games all the time, the ring obliges. Now Justin is living out his favorite game, Cosmic Commandos, in real-life. As giant aliens, flying robots, and living balls of snot attack his city, Justin finds himself unable to get past the boss levels. As his energy drains, Justin becomes weaker and unable to complete his missions. Thankfully, Jeremy has been reading up on the game manual. But can he help his twin brother before Justin's energy level reaches zero?
Cosmic Commandos was a fun read by Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius' Christopher Eliopoulos. This 2017 all-ages graphic novel by Dial Books is his first independent title. Young Readers will instantly recognize Eliopoulos' style from his illustrations of Brad Meltzer's Ordinary People Change the World Series. But parents might recognize other comic influences on this book in the form of Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson.
First of all, the children all look like characters from Peanuts. But it's not a straight rip-off. Justin is not drawn to look like Charlie Brown nor is Jeremy Linus. But when Jeremy gets said at his brother rejecting him, you can see Charles Schulz's influence on Eliopoulos's art. Why even the school is named after Schulz- another subtle tribute that only the adults will catch.
When it comes to the imaginative plot, there's a lot of Calvin and Hobbes at play. The legendary comic strip by Bill Watterson had day dreamer Calvin wishing he was space explorer Spaceman Spiff instead of being stuck in class. Justin is very much Calvin, to the point he's a bit of a brat- a very annoying brat. Also, in Peanuts, you don't see grown-ups, but you do here and they look very much like Calvin's mom and dad.
By the end of the book, I was very much wanting it not to end. I'm very glad it ended on a high note because for the first couple of chapters, I really didn't like Justin. So much that I was ready to throw the book across. But I stuck with the book and was duly rewarded with the ending.
Speaking of endings, I would be very happy if this book stopped where it did. Yet I would also be open to a sequel. Regardless, I hope to see more entertaining all-age adventures from Christopher Eliopoulos in the very near future.
The ring will grant any wish. Since Justin wants to play video games all the time, the ring obliges. Now Justin is living out his favorite game, Cosmic Commandos, in real-life. As giant aliens, flying robots, and living balls of snot attack his city, Justin finds himself unable to get past the boss levels. As his energy drains, Justin becomes weaker and unable to complete his missions. Thankfully, Jeremy has been reading up on the game manual. But can he help his twin brother before Justin's energy level reaches zero?
Cosmic Commandos was a fun read by Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius' Christopher Eliopoulos. This 2017 all-ages graphic novel by Dial Books is his first independent title. Young Readers will instantly recognize Eliopoulos' style from his illustrations of Brad Meltzer's Ordinary People Change the World Series. But parents might recognize other comic influences on this book in the form of Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson.
First of all, the children all look like characters from Peanuts. But it's not a straight rip-off. Justin is not drawn to look like Charlie Brown nor is Jeremy Linus. But when Jeremy gets said at his brother rejecting him, you can see Charles Schulz's influence on Eliopoulos's art. Why even the school is named after Schulz- another subtle tribute that only the adults will catch.
When it comes to the imaginative plot, there's a lot of Calvin and Hobbes at play. The legendary comic strip by Bill Watterson had day dreamer Calvin wishing he was space explorer Spaceman Spiff instead of being stuck in class. Justin is very much Calvin, to the point he's a bit of a brat- a very annoying brat. Also, in Peanuts, you don't see grown-ups, but you do here and they look very much like Calvin's mom and dad.
By the end of the book, I was very much wanting it not to end. I'm very glad it ended on a high note because for the first couple of chapters, I really didn't like Justin. So much that I was ready to throw the book across. But I stuck with the book and was duly rewarded with the ending.
Speaking of endings, I would be very happy if this book stopped where it did. Yet I would also be open to a sequel. Regardless, I hope to see more entertaining all-age adventures from Christopher Eliopoulos in the very near future.
September 25, 2018
If I didn't read so many graphic novels aimed at kids, I'm not sure I would have liked this as much. Christopher Eliopoulos has created some great comics and graphic novels for kids, but usually with a twist to the humor. In this case, the story is about two boys, twins, with very different personalities. Grownups trying to read the book will be bothered by the obnoxious behavior of the one who is at the center of the story, but he, in fact, is the one who has a lot of growing to do during this little tale.
Jeremy thinks his life stinks because it isn't perfect, and it won't be. Think of him as an obnoxious version of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, and you wouldn't be far off. His twin is the one that everyone else likes best, at least by Jeremy's standards, but this story is what Jeremy needs to understand why, and maybe become a better person himself.
The story is a funny wish-fulfillment one involving an apparently magic ring that grants one wish to each person, no matter how bad an idea that wish is. Jeremy uses his wish to be able to become the hero of his favorite video game, without realizing that he also made the events of the game into real-world events. Since his detested nice-guy brother is the only other person who knows what's going on, this makes things difficult.
A lot of kids will enjoy this, whether they identify with Jeremy or not, because the story itself is fun.
Jeremy thinks his life stinks because it isn't perfect, and it won't be. Think of him as an obnoxious version of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, and you wouldn't be far off. His twin is the one that everyone else likes best, at least by Jeremy's standards, but this story is what Jeremy needs to understand why, and maybe become a better person himself.
The story is a funny wish-fulfillment one involving an apparently magic ring that grants one wish to each person, no matter how bad an idea that wish is. Jeremy uses his wish to be able to become the hero of his favorite video game, without realizing that he also made the events of the game into real-world events. Since his detested nice-guy brother is the only other person who knows what's going on, this makes things difficult.
A lot of kids will enjoy this, whether they identify with Jeremy or not, because the story itself is fun.
May 3, 2023
Children's graphic novel. Jeremy is a bit of a whiner, and a bit of a jerk. He starts off telling the reader about his "stinkish life." His identical twin brother Justin is kind to everyone, a reader, and generally the opposite of Jeremy. One day Jeremy finds a ring in his cereal box, and to his surprise later he turns into Cosmic Commando, the hero from his favorite video game! As he finds himself battling video game characters, he realizes that maybe he's not as good at the game as he thought. His brother Justin is determined to help from the sidelines, so he reads the game guide cover to cover. Jeremy takes his suggestions but refuses to acknowledge Justin's help, until he is out of other options.
This book was a stand-alone, which is nice after trying to track down the whole Dog Man series at the library. It was action-packed and my son seemed to enjoy it. I didn't love that none of the sound effects were typical words. I also didn't like Jeremy's whole attitude and how he kept telling his brother "stop looking like me." But it was a happy ending with at least some evidence of a change of heart.
This book was a stand-alone, which is nice after trying to track down the whole Dog Man series at the library. It was action-packed and my son seemed to enjoy it. I didn't love that none of the sound effects were typical words. I also didn't like Jeremy's whole attitude and how he kept telling his brother "stop looking like me." But it was a happy ending with at least some evidence of a change of heart.
October 30, 2017
This is the story of twin brothers--one whose attitude will remind readers a great deal of "Calvin" from Calvin and Hobbes... as will the art style and even the font. However, comparisons end there as this is a unique story that will leave readers with a smile. Jeremy is a risk taker who can't stand his twin brother, Justin. Justin loves to be organized and follow the rules. When Jeremy finds a magic ring that turns him into a character from his favorite video game, Justin does his best to keep Jeremy out of trouble. It's fun story full of action and explosions, but it's also a heartwarming story that touches on the importance of family. I'd give this to readers of Hilo, Cpt. Underpants, or Mighty Jack. It's sure to be a hit.
May 6, 2019
Title: Cosmic Commandos
Author: Christopher Eliopoulos
Pages: 184
Lexile: GN180L
Comments: Jeremy has many complaints, but they’re all so over-the-top that he becomes hilarious instead of annoying. But the answer to all of his problems seems to come from the most unexpected place – a free toy in his cereal box that gives him a wish. The wish allows him to become a space-themed hero from his favorite video game, sort of like Buzz Lightyear. The heart of the story is Jeremy’s problems with his likable, know-it-all twin brother Justin. But it plays out against comic battles against giant bullies, killer robots, a Jello monster, and UFOs. Eliopoulos’s style reminded me of Calvin & Hobbes (especially Spaceman Spiff), along with others like Big Nate.
3 out of 5
Author: Christopher Eliopoulos
Pages: 184
Lexile: GN180L
Comments: Jeremy has many complaints, but they’re all so over-the-top that he becomes hilarious instead of annoying. But the answer to all of his problems seems to come from the most unexpected place – a free toy in his cereal box that gives him a wish. The wish allows him to become a space-themed hero from his favorite video game, sort of like Buzz Lightyear. The heart of the story is Jeremy’s problems with his likable, know-it-all twin brother Justin. But it plays out against comic battles against giant bullies, killer robots, a Jello monster, and UFOs. Eliopoulos’s style reminded me of Calvin & Hobbes (especially Spaceman Spiff), along with others like Big Nate.
3 out of 5
January 16, 2025
Chris Eliopoulos creates another masterful graphic novel. I find not just myself, but my entire family enjoying virtually everything he works on. That makes an amazing resume and if this is your first book reading by him, look him up and you won’t be disappointed in the variety and catalog of great works! The story revolves around twin brothers Justin and Jeremy who are opposites in many ways. I loved the story and felt not only did it have an amazing story worth telling, but the flow was nothing short of perfect. It’s a page turner and now I feel I might have to buy this book for all my twin friends. There is so much to like about this book, I highly recommend this for anyone who loves graphic novels.
October 1, 2017
My favorite part of this book is the clever cover...it looks like a cereal box! So fun. The story is simple, but cute. Jeremy thinks his life stinks. Nothing goes right for him. And he has a twin brother, Justin, that does everything right. Not fair. Things seem to change when he finds a prize in a cereal box that turns out to be a magic ring. Now all kinds of adventures happen and life finally seems to be going in Jeremy's favor. But at what cost? Can Jeremy learn teamwork and overcome his jealousy in time to save the world? Or will he insist on doing things his way and have to face the peril alone. Decent story with an important message.
November 5, 2017
I love graphic novels, and they are ever popular in my library. This will not be an exception. Jeremy and Justin are twins, but they are quite different. Jeremy hates being a twin (or at least that's his attitude). He likes to play video games and ignore his brother. Justin is the quieter one who likes to think things through. when Jeremy gets a magic ring in a cereal box and ends up becoming a Cosmic Commando he is soon living the video game in real life and saving the world. However, his brother will hold the key to his eventual success. Frankly, the story is merely adequate. The artwork, however, is amazing--bright and crisp and eye-catching. This book will fly off the shelves.
November 3, 2019
I was thinking about rounding this up to three stars with the thought that kids might like it, but my feelings on this book don't allow me to do that.
The graphics were adequate, though not really my style, I guess I liked the way color was used in the cutscenes, but it really was just okay.
The story I felt was a bit rushed in a way, a bit far-fetched, and I just I didn't really like the main character. I guess Jeremy did grow in some way through the book, but i just was not keen on the dynamic between the two characters, the contrast was too great and they weren't fully likeable characters.
Very adequate book and I just wouldn't pick it out right away as a book to suggest to others.
The graphics were adequate, though not really my style, I guess I liked the way color was used in the cutscenes, but it really was just okay.
The story I felt was a bit rushed in a way, a bit far-fetched, and I just I didn't really like the main character. I guess Jeremy did grow in some way through the book, but i just was not keen on the dynamic between the two characters, the contrast was too great and they weren't fully likeable characters.
Very adequate book and I just wouldn't pick it out right away as a book to suggest to others.
July 25, 2019
Jeremy’s cereal box contains a ring that grants a single wish. He wishes to be like Cosmic Commando, his favorite video game hero. Unfortunately this makes the video game world come to life. Jeremy struggles to beat all the levels in the video game so he can beat them is real life.
Jeremy is a bully to his twin brother Justin, and treats him terrible until they have to team up to defeat the last level. Jeremy eventually apologizes, but I still didn’t really like the character.
Jeremy is a bully to his twin brother Justin, and treats him terrible until they have to team up to defeat the last level. Jeremy eventually apologizes, but I still didn’t really like the character.
October 28, 2020
A selfish brother pushes his twin away from him after he gains power from a wish and a ring in a cereal box. When the game he plays incessantly bleeds into real life with him as the hero, he has to confront his anger and his jealousy to finally team up with his brother to save the day. It's a cute and fast-paced romp of a graphic novel, though the final battle could have been a little shorter without losing anything.
July 15, 2017
We all love Chris Eliopoulos! This book really encompasses his heart along with his talent. These amazing twins based on his own twins will capture your heart while they take you on a wild adventure. Who doesn't love the idea of wish rings bringing superpowers for good! I strongly suggest this book for any child, young or old!
June 25, 2019
Jeremy thinks his life stinks...bossy, dull parents, an embarrassing identical twin brother, and he can't beat the final level of his favorite video game. But all that is about to change when he puts on a decoder ring from his cereal box. Valuable life lessons are about to faced when he becomes the hero of his game and must save the world from being destroyed.
April 10, 2020
Fred liked "Monster Mayhem" so much that we ordered this, the first graphic novel in the series. He likes this even more, because it somehow checks every box for 5-year old Freddy - it is about superheroes, and getting sucked into a video game, and brothers, and it has silly jokes. We have read it at least five times since getting it two weeks ago.
April 22, 2021
2.5 stars. The main brother, Jeremy, is so incredibly unlikeable and his sudden shift (at the final 10% of the book!) toward being kind toward his brother is unrealistic after the pattern of behavior throughout the comic. I did not enjoy this at all, but I suppose some people could enjoy the video game/superhero aspects of it.
January 7, 2022
We read Monster Mayhem first (which is very different). My 7yo devoured this book, and I love any book that has him reading past his required time. I started reading this aloud to my 3yo, but I didn't care for the attitude and jerkiness of the main character. He came around in the end, but it was still overwhelmingly negative. I do love the artwork of the author.
April 5, 2022
So I read this because a coworker mentioned that when she glanced at it there were a few panels that seemed like near-exact correlations with Calvin and Hobbes strips. And yeah, this seems Calvin and Hobbes inspired in terms of the art style, the characters, and definitely a little bit the concept. Honestly, I didn't like it.
July 8, 2017
The artwork is a blatant cross between Charles Schultz and Bill Watterson. the message is more preachy than Roald Dahl, and the hero is a stupid, lazy, selfish, cruel bully. Thankfully, it was a short book, so it was over quickly.
July 29, 2017
I love this illustrator's work in Brad Meltzer's ORDINARY PEOPLE CHANGE THE WORLD series, and I do have kids will really enjoy this graphic novel. I don't know that it did much for me, but I still think this guy draws some great stuff!
October 6, 2017
Sometimes our siblings get on our nerves, especially when we really want to be more like them. I love the fact that each sibling has traits the other wants to emulate, not to mention battling their way out of each catastrophe.
November 9, 2020
I have loved Chris's work with Brad Melzer in the "Ordinary People save the World" series. This one did not disappoint. I love that he dedicated it to his own twin sons and he reflected their individual personalities in such a compassionate way. Recommend you try it.
May 5, 2017
Dear authors: Graphic novels for kids do not have to be blatantly message-y. It's okay for them to be just for fun sometimes. This should have been one of those times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews