Bumble Brothers

September 12, 2022
Nine-year-old brown-skinned twins Walter and Christopher Bumble seek a way to purchase their favorite comic book in this madcap graphic novel by Metzger (Our Earth) and Schatell (Two Crazy Pigs). When their mother sends them on an errand to buy milk, the twins—who share a love of theatrical antics worthy of a magician’s stage, as when they juggle (and break) a dozen eggs for their own amusement—are distracted by the latest issue of their “favoritest” half-frog and half-rabbit comic book hero, Frabbit. After trying to buy it at their local comics shop and realizing they’re $2 short, they work tirelessly to raise the funds, leading to a frantic impromptu magic show in front of the grocery store. Schatell’s straightforward paneling depicts scenes of the twins bouncing from one idea to the next, as when the discovery of a stick gives way to nuptials, and stout character designs reminiscent of Sunday newspaper comic strips use wiry line art and subdued full color. Though Metzger’s tale lacks connective tissue, this work offers a faithful snapshot of the daily life of two rambunctious, imaginative siblings. Ages 7–11.