Mo & Jo Fighting Forever Together
Author Jay Lynch does a superb job capturing the high-pitched hum of tension found between rivaled siblings in this fractured fairytale about the brother and sister Superhero Team, Mo & Jo. Strangely enough, this sibling bickering struck a cord with my sons. Yeah my boys know how to bicker like the best of them. They seemed to enjoy (dare I say relish) the arguments happening between brother, Mo and sister, Jo.
Mo & Jo are granted the gift of super powers from their aging mailman/superhero, who bestows on them his prized suit (which holds all his powers), of course they get in a scuffle and tear it in half. Mom comes to the rescue (they always do) and sews it into two outfits, thus dividing the super powers between the two suits. Mo has the magnetic boots and Jo becomes super stretchy.
Dean Haspiel illustrated Mo & Jo Fighting Together Forever
The flow of the pages drew my boys right into the book, understanding that developmentally they are somewhat obsessed with all things having to do with “good guys” and “bad guys” (which makes for interesting conversations with them in the grocery store) and this is one of their first experiences with the comic book format.
Of course, Mo & Jo are immediately put to the test by arch nemesis Saw Jaw and find themselves on the losing end of the stick until they stop their in-fighting and work as a team. The suggested reading age is 4-8 years. Assuming your kids haven’t already been steeped in the rich history of pulp and comic books, they will probably find Mo & Jo a really fun ride.
I will admit, growing up with both the mainstream and underground comic scene this storyline is formulaic. But then, I remind myself as I watch my son flip through the pages after I’m done reading it to him, “the book is not for me, it’s for him.”
Sited Links;
Jay Lynch & Dean Haspiel | Mo and Jo: Fighting Together Forever
Michael Chabon | The Escapist
Related Links;
Jay Lynch & Frank Cammuso | Otto’s Orange Day
Eleanor Davis | Stinky
