What do you think?
Rate this book
Comic Book Kid
Brian is convinced that his cheerful, joking father is still angry at him for accidentally destroying his valuable Superman #1 comic book from 1939. Like his father, Brian collects comics. So he's not surprised when Mr. Somerset, the owner of the town's general store, gives him one. But he is surprised to find that the comic book is full of blank panels and that a metal ring falls out when he opens it. Brian's best friend, Paul, finds a dial on the ring. He sets it to 75 million B.C., presses a button labeled "Timequest", and the boys suddenly find themselves in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean battling a prehistoric beast.
They decide to use the ring to travel back to 1939 to get another Superman #1 for Brian's father. But when a string of misadventures threatens to alter their life back at home forever, Brian realizes that the comic doesn't matter as much as getting back to his mom and dad.
With dozens of illustrations by renowned Australian illustrator Craig Smith, this book is sure to please kids of all ages.
3rd Annual Disney Adventures Book Awards Winner (Adventure Category)
2002 The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to twelve) —Bank Street College of Education
“This lighthearted science fiction fantasy has plenty of quick action. The dialogue is crisp and natural with an abundance of middle school humor. There’s also a subtle message about responsibility and friendship.” —School Library Journal
“[This] might please Trio fans waiting for the next Scieszka/Smith installment. Pen-and-ink illustrations by Craig Smith capture the whirling dervish feeling that pervades the story.” —Booklist
“In addition to plenty of laughs and adventures, this novel features Mr. O, one of the most engaging teacher characters in fiction.” —Washington Parent
“Craig Smith’s pen and ink lend comic-book authenticity.” —Library Talk
They decide to use the ring to travel back to 1939 to get another Superman #1 for Brian's father. But when a string of misadventures threatens to alter their life back at home forever, Brian realizes that the comic doesn't matter as much as getting back to his mom and dad.
With dozens of illustrations by renowned Australian illustrator Craig Smith, this book is sure to please kids of all ages.
3rd Annual Disney Adventures Book Awards Winner (Adventure Category)
2002 The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to twelve) —Bank Street College of Education
“This lighthearted science fiction fantasy has plenty of quick action. The dialogue is crisp and natural with an abundance of middle school humor. There’s also a subtle message about responsibility and friendship.” —School Library Journal
“[This] might please Trio fans waiting for the next Scieszka/Smith installment. Pen-and-ink illustrations by Craig Smith capture the whirling dervish feeling that pervades the story.” —Booklist
“In addition to plenty of laughs and adventures, this novel features Mr. O, one of the most engaging teacher characters in fiction.” —Washington Parent
“Craig Smith’s pen and ink lend comic-book authenticity.” —Library Talk
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2025
I was given this book back in middle school, and held onto it. Now I was able to read it to my two oldest, and we had a great time. It made me happy that they enjoyed the story as much as I had back then!
April 2, 2010
Shadman Maksood 705 Ela Reading Response Creative Writing Comic Book Kid
Nathan took us to the mall to get new Time Quest coins and magazines so we could get back home in 2001 and get Mattie and . I and Paul stepped through the silver door that was swiping red lasers. It was as if we were going to ride on a plane but way too hi-tech.
ALERT OF TIME TRAVELERS!!!
A red light started beeping above us. Boy the future was weird. All the people around us panicked and ran. I could tell it was time for us to go. WE went through the doors. Nathan followed as we ran.
“What the hell were you trying to do?!” I yelled at Nathan “Are you trying to get us into trouble?!”
“You can’t trust future FBI agents like me.” He replied. He took out a pocket gun. He aimed the pistol at me and Paul. Paul ducked into a store. I ran down some stairs that lead to a subway with Mattie. Nathan had lost us. What a traitor.
“That was close.” Sighed Paul “Wait a minute someone’s missing.”
“Who? ” I asked
“The yo-yo kid.” He replied. Then we heard a scream. Then I knew that was the last I would ever hear of him again. We sat there and looked ate each other in horror for a while. Then I stood up and started to walk up the stair. How were we gonna get home. We were outlaws in this year too. They probably thought we were some kinds of aliens. Then I knew a way. There was a hobo in the corner. I had my coins from 2001 still with me.
“Yo. Need some drugs I’ll give ya these.” I said showing him the bag of coins.
“YE!” he said glaring up ate the “drugs” with his mouth watering. We need your clothes. He started stripping his close off. The pants, the shirt and even his underwear. I’m not sure what I saw but I did see something very hairy. I put the close on.
“How do I look?” I said turning around with a drunken smirk on my face.
“Awesome! Now they’re gonna think were real humans!” Mattie said sarcastically.
“My own grandma doesn’t even support me.” I said sighing. “You guys stay hear while I find some Time Quest comics“. I ran up the stairs and down a hall that lead to a general store. I look for the row that said comics. They had things that said action packed or 10 cents blurted on the cover. I found one that said Time Quest. It was number 2 Revenge of the Physics.
“That’ll be 1 purple coin. “said the guy at the counter. I didn’t have any more purple coins. I didn’t know what to do. The man at the counter only had one eye that was staring at me so it was pretty intimidating. ‘C’mon Brian run for it’ I kept thinking.
“You buying?” he asked me confused. I kept shivering. Then I ran. “My ten cents!” he yelled.
Red robots started to follow me. I passed dozens of stores that started to pull down silver gates. The silver robots started to shoot at me. The one eyed guy shot lasers ate me and the robots were throwing everything they saw which was weird because it should have been the other way around. I ran down the subway stair. A silver gate was closing. I slipped down the opening. I made it with my jacket tearing off.
I gasped for air. I ran so much and now I laid flat on a cold tiled floor. It was really quite refreshing. I gave a coin to each of us and then we all teleported to our time not saying a word. Then I had noticed Video the dog wasn’t with us. But at least we all would survive.
Continues on in the book
Nathan took us to the mall to get new Time Quest coins and magazines so we could get back home in 2001 and get Mattie and . I and Paul stepped through the silver door that was swiping red lasers. It was as if we were going to ride on a plane but way too hi-tech.
ALERT OF TIME TRAVELERS!!!
A red light started beeping above us. Boy the future was weird. All the people around us panicked and ran. I could tell it was time for us to go. WE went through the doors. Nathan followed as we ran.
“What the hell were you trying to do?!” I yelled at Nathan “Are you trying to get us into trouble?!”
“You can’t trust future FBI agents like me.” He replied. He took out a pocket gun. He aimed the pistol at me and Paul. Paul ducked into a store. I ran down some stairs that lead to a subway with Mattie. Nathan had lost us. What a traitor.
“That was close.” Sighed Paul “Wait a minute someone’s missing.”
“Who? ” I asked
“The yo-yo kid.” He replied. Then we heard a scream. Then I knew that was the last I would ever hear of him again. We sat there and looked ate each other in horror for a while. Then I stood up and started to walk up the stair. How were we gonna get home. We were outlaws in this year too. They probably thought we were some kinds of aliens. Then I knew a way. There was a hobo in the corner. I had my coins from 2001 still with me.
“Yo. Need some drugs I’ll give ya these.” I said showing him the bag of coins.
“YE!” he said glaring up ate the “drugs” with his mouth watering. We need your clothes. He started stripping his close off. The pants, the shirt and even his underwear. I’m not sure what I saw but I did see something very hairy. I put the close on.
“How do I look?” I said turning around with a drunken smirk on my face.
“Awesome! Now they’re gonna think were real humans!” Mattie said sarcastically.
“My own grandma doesn’t even support me.” I said sighing. “You guys stay hear while I find some Time Quest comics“. I ran up the stairs and down a hall that lead to a general store. I look for the row that said comics. They had things that said action packed or 10 cents blurted on the cover. I found one that said Time Quest. It was number 2 Revenge of the Physics.
“That’ll be 1 purple coin. “said the guy at the counter. I didn’t have any more purple coins. I didn’t know what to do. The man at the counter only had one eye that was staring at me so it was pretty intimidating. ‘C’mon Brian run for it’ I kept thinking.
“You buying?” he asked me confused. I kept shivering. Then I ran. “My ten cents!” he yelled.
Red robots started to follow me. I passed dozens of stores that started to pull down silver gates. The silver robots started to shoot at me. The one eyed guy shot lasers ate me and the robots were throwing everything they saw which was weird because it should have been the other way around. I ran down the subway stair. A silver gate was closing. I slipped down the opening. I made it with my jacket tearing off.
I gasped for air. I ran so much and now I laid flat on a cold tiled floor. It was really quite refreshing. I gave a coin to each of us and then we all teleported to our time not saying a word. Then I had noticed Video the dog wasn’t with us. But at least we all would survive.
Continues on in the book
January 23, 2012
Dani Phillps
12/7/11
Book Review: The Comic Book Kid
This book is Realistic fiction. An intelligent child and his 3 best friends go on an Adventurous journey trying to find the cheapskate, Mr. Hummerset. It all starts at the General Store when the 4 friends ask, “Mr. Hummerset, could we trade this classic Superman comic for the newest one please?” He passes them the comic without saying anything and runs off into his hummer driving toward a dark, woody trail. They looked at the brand new comic, opened it up and…. Nothing was there! “The comic’s blank, Mr. Hummerset!” I howled after him. After that they eventually find out there are clues to the myth in the blank comic and search for it. Will they find out the myth is true or false? That is the question. This book is a great action-packed book and teaches you to stand up for yourself. It is a funny book too. It also is a very intense descriptive e book. The authors style of writing is very unique too because the book stands out to me. I recommend this book to an age group at our level because it is an easy book, with lots of suspense, &nice to sit down and relax about.
12/7/11
Book Review: The Comic Book Kid
This book is Realistic fiction. An intelligent child and his 3 best friends go on an Adventurous journey trying to find the cheapskate, Mr. Hummerset. It all starts at the General Store when the 4 friends ask, “Mr. Hummerset, could we trade this classic Superman comic for the newest one please?” He passes them the comic without saying anything and runs off into his hummer driving toward a dark, woody trail. They looked at the brand new comic, opened it up and…. Nothing was there! “The comic’s blank, Mr. Hummerset!” I howled after him. After that they eventually find out there are clues to the myth in the blank comic and search for it. Will they find out the myth is true or false? That is the question. This book is a great action-packed book and teaches you to stand up for yourself. It is a funny book too. It also is a very intense descriptive e book. The authors style of writing is very unique too because the book stands out to me. I recommend this book to an age group at our level because it is an easy book, with lots of suspense, &nice to sit down and relax about.
July 24, 2012
This is in the year 2001. Brian and Paul time travel to the years 1931, 2499 A.D., and 99,999 A.D. When Brian was 5, he destroyed his dad's Superman #1 comic. His dad bought it at an auction for $1,000,000. Brian found the comic in a black trunk. Brian was drinking some fruit punch while reading the comic. His dad called out to him and he was so startled that he dropped the comic and then spilled the fruit punch on it. Then he crumpled the comic into a ball and threw it in the trash!! Brian had to time travel in order to find a replacement comic book for his dad. Brian had a lot of adventures during his time travels.
February 16, 2009
Since all my 3-5 graders are into "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", which is done in comic book style, I will try to get them to read this!
March 24, 2010
The misadventures of two kids who travel back in time to buy an old rare comic book. Jeez, what comic book geek hasn't contemplated being able to do this? Has some fun bits, but overall? Meh.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews