I will go so far as to say don't wait for the trade, go find
the back issues. With the trade you run
the risk of accidentally opening the book to the wrong place and spoiling
yourself of the fantastic fifth and final issue reveal. It is one of the best
examples of hiding in plain site ever. I certainly never saw it coming and,
after it hit, I could not help but wonder how it got past me. Perfectly set up
and paid off, it's a masterpiece of family fare.
If your child is too young to read, read it to them (you
will love it too). If they are old
enough to read, read it to them/with them anyway, it makes for great
parent/child time and unlike most of the comics aimed at kids these days, it's actually worth the valuable time of adults as well.
The series focuses on a little boy who has just moved to a
new town after the death of his grandfather. His inheritance amounts to a
broken pocket watch and an old stuffed bear. Naturally, it's not just any toy bear but a
super-hero bear in disguise. At first is seems like "Calvin and Hobbs ,"
but unlike that strip, Hero Bear is real and the story, which methodically
takes its time, ends up having much more heart. In addition to the wonderful
"The Inheritance" mini-series, Mike has not one, but out two oneshots
in this series - one came out before the mini-series and the other between
issues 3 and 4 of the mini, but both take place after "The
Inheritance," since it is the "origin" story. Both are good
reads but the set up and pay off with the mini-series makes it an immediate
timeless family classic. I'm not using that phrase lightly. It is a family
classic. Something you will want to pull out once every year or two and make a
family tradition. I mean it really is to comics what the "Peanuts"
holiday specials are to television, "The Wizard of Oz," is to film,
or "Where the Wild Things Are" is to story books. It's THAT kind of
good.
I have no doubt that several decades down the line my son
will be sharing Mike's work with his kids. Until then, the two of us are
waiting patiently for the next mini-series - "Saving Time."
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