Eco-Comics for Kids — Especially Mouse Guard!

By Rebecca Buchanan
April 1, 2006

When Tart decided to devote its April issue to the theme of the environment and comics in honor of Earth Day, I didn't think that I would have any difficulty in finding a suitable topic. Quite the opposite turned out to be the case. There are so many all-ages comics which deal with this issue, that I had an excess from which to choose! :) Rod Espinosa's Neotopia (Antarctic) is set in a post-apocalyptic ecological/social paradise. Miyazaki's classic Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind (Viz) chronicles the conflict between industrial and ecological forces. Clan Apis (Active Synpase) by Jay Hosler presents a humorous examination of life as a bee, while his Sandwalk Adventures looks at evolution. Even Reid and Kantz' Legends From Darkwood (Antarctic) examines the interaction between humanity and nature, and what happens when we hunt a species nearly to extinction (in this case, unicorns).

No, the difficulty was not in finding a topic or title to discuss, but in narrowing it down!

That's when Mouse Guard (Archaia Studios Press) arrived. :)

I am a huge fan of Mark Smylie's Artesia, published through his Archaia Studios Press imprint. When I saw that Mouse Guard was being offered by the same publisher, I decided "well, this has to be good." And, oh, it is wonderful. :)

The six-issue miniseries by David Petersen follows the exploits of three members of the Mouse Guard, those brave souls tasked with keeping all mice safe in a wide and dangerous world. The Mouse Guard are escorts, bodyguards, pathfinders and soldiers. And when a mouse merchant disappears enroute to Barkstone, Lieam, Kenzie and Saxon are dispatched to find out what became of him. Sadly, it is too late for the merchant, but the three Guards arrive in time to dispatch a terrible threat to mousedom ....

While Petersen's Mouse Guard is a fantastic tale, it incorporates elements from the real world. The mice are still small, not human size; imagine hauling a cart full of grain through the woods when you are that tiny. Weasels, birds of prey and snakes are their natural enemies. The mice find shelter in rocky outcroppings and underground. Kids will learn something about (real) life as a mouse by reading Mouse Guard.

And the artwork! Luminous, detailed watercolors grace every page. Some panels, as when Lieam is sitting watch, are quiet and meditative. Others, as when the three Guards battle the snake, are frenetic and frightening, while the scene in which Kenzie and Saxon destroy the nest of eggs is dark and violent. And I love the expression on Lieam's face when he is pulled out of the snake!

There are a number of all-ages comics which deal with environmental themes. Some are fantastic, some more realistic; some focus on human characters, others on human-like animals, others on just animals. I recommend any of the titles listed above; all of them offer some insight into the natural world, and will make children curious enough to ask more questions. But if you are looking for an exciting, beautifully illustrated story, than I highly recommend Mouse Guard: Belly of the Beast.

Archaia Studios Press