The Griff

Review

Common Sense Media says

Stereotypes, muddled story sink alien-invader graphic novel.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this graphic novel is set in the wake of an alien invasion in which most of the planet's human population has been wiped out. The surviving characters fight off griffin-like dragons, resulting in much gunplay and explosions, though no human blood or casualties are shown.

  • Educational value0
    Not applicable.
  • Positive messages2
    If you work together, you can accomplish your goals, even in the face of an alien invasion.
  • Positive role models2
    The main characters are brave and resourceful in the face of disaster. One character sacrifices his own life for another.
  • Violence4
    The characters are under near-constant attack from the griff. Gunplay and explosions are often involved. No human blood or casualties are shown.
  • Sex2
    One female character spends the book dressed in a halter top and revealing tights and is drawn in deliberately provocative poses. She and her boyfriend kiss and talk of repopulating the planet. No sexual acts are depicted.
  • Language3
    The characters occasionally use variations of "f--k."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    One adult supporting character chain smokes.
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What's the story?

After an ancient beacon leads a gigantic alien spaceship to Earth, griffin-like dragons destroy the planet's defensive infrastructures and wipe out most of the human population. Two survivors, a skater-punk, and a sexy Goth game designer, travel from New York to Orlando, where they team up with a killer whale trainer and a buff commando-type. This unlikely quartet struggles to unveil the secret behind the invasion and find a ray of hope for humanity.

Is it any good?

 

Christopher Moore is an accomplished satirical novelist (Bite Me, Lamb, The Stupidest Angel), but he and his collaborator, screenwriter-director Ian Corson, display no facility for comics scripting in this muddled, unfunny, annoying graphic novel. The choreography of the action sequences rarely makes sense, the dialogue sounds strained, and the characters are one-note stereotypes.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about what life might be like after a major catastrophe. What supplies would be required after a disaster, such as an earthquake or tsunami?

  • How does the book portray the use of guns and other weapons? Are they the most important factor in the war against the griff?

  • How is telling an action-filled story in a graphic novel different from one told in conventional chapters? Which one do you like better?

This review was written by Michael Berry

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This review was written by Michael Berry
Authors:Christopher Moore, Ian Corson
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Science Fiction
Publisher:William Morrow
Publication date:July 19, 2011
Number of pages:160
Paperback price:$22.99
This review was written by Michael Berry
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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