With Liberty and Recess for All

PS238 #vol. I, #1-5

by Aaron Williams

A collection of the PS238 comic book, Volume 1. Issues #0 through #5.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Superheroes, Humor, Fantasy

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Aaron Williams is a cartoonist, illustrator, and author residing in Kansas City.

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant comic, absolutely hilarious. Smart, funny and ahead of its time. If you like superheroes at all, read this.

Seriously, it’s fantastic. The main stories are very well done, but Williams also does these incredible interstitials that both inform the world that he’s created and make you laugh.

Great introductions to a bunch of the main characters that appear in here: Captain Clarinet, Tyler, Zodon, and more.

Just buy it and be happy.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

PS238 is an elementary school for the children of superheroes (they’re known as ‘metahumans’). It’s located several miles beneath a regular elementary school, and PS238 students also wear holographic bracelets that allow them to interact with the regular students. Most of the kids have powers of their own (except for Tyler Marlocke) and are learning what their powers are and how to control them. They’ve got kids who can fly, kids who are super brains, kids who can create food out of anything, kids who are invincible, kids who can read minds, kids who can time travel, kids who can see into the future, kids who can heal, and kids with powers that could destroy the world. They’re all thrown together in classes, and in other situations, and they regularly destroy portions of the school through one accident or another.

Meet:

Zodon: He plans to take over the world someday as its ultimate evil overlord, and he’s looking for minions. You could be one! He’s taking applications! This evil mastermind’s got a nasty habit of cussing all the time, so the faculty installs a chip in him that makes him spout nonsense words whenever he wants to say something rude.

Ron: Also known as Captain Clarinet. He can fly and play the clarinet. I’m not sure yet what kind of super power playing the clarinet is, but it should be interesting.

Marvin: He can put anyone to sleep.

Vera: She can recall the past about any object that she touches.

Kathy: Can reconstruct or repair physical objects almost instantly.

Tyler Marlocke: His parents are famous superheroes, but Tyler hasn’t yet manifested any powers. They’re in denial about this, so they’ve sent him to PS238 regardless, and he’s making do as best he can. He’s got a superhero mentor who’s working with him specially – giving him super gear and tips on how he can use his brains even if he doesn’t have any other powers. Also known as Moon Shadow –who becomes a hero and a legend to the other kids (they haven’t figured out that he’s only Tyler Marlocke the kid with no powers).

[LauraW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still don't quite get graphic novels, but the premise of this one is right up my alley, so I am enjoying it: kids with special powers in an elementary school set 3 miles underground, beneath a regular elementary school. The pages telling the teachers in the school how to act like regular teachers are priceless: wear out of date clothes, go to garage sales, live just above the poverty line, take up an eccentric hobby (such as stamp collecting or obsessive reading of genre literature). LOL.

I've ordered the next issues.

[Greymalkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The parodies of other superhero comics and graphic novels are hilarious. Nothing terribly new but everything goes together quite solidly. I sort of wish they were teenagers instead of little kids so I could have more angst but I guess that there's enough of those already. I liked the hints of where the plot is going to go in later books and look forward to reading more!

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaron Williams has taken the "superhero school" trope and elevated it to new heights (no pun intended). This series starts out charming and clever, and only gets better with each installment. Highly recommended to anyone who digs superheroes, humor, or, I suppose, school.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. As the intro to volume 2 says, this is the idea so good Disney stole it. Twice. A school for the "specially-abled" or meta-prodigy children of metahumans. PS238 is funny and brilliant. There are genius ideas and laugh out loud moments. So much fun to read.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute comic about a secret school (located under a normal school) for kids with super-powers. Seems to have some good potential, but I wasn't terribly impressed by this first volume.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this graphic novel series. The scenes with Zodon had me laughing out loud. Very clever and fun.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series I have read in a while and the fact the author played COH makes my geeky heart oh so very happy!

[Jessica Adams Duzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. The children of Superheroes get a first rate education and instruction in how to use their powers at PS238.