REVIEW: Malcolm Kidd and the Perfect Song -TPB

Luke Anthony

1 year ago

When Malcolm Kidd, a down-on-his-luck musician wanna-be, is pushed by his friend January to replace his beat-up old keyboard from an unusual music store, things get weird. Malcolm falls into a crack between his daydreams and reality, meeting the ghost of an old Jazz Musician, the Midnight Kidd, who sets him on a mission to reclaim the ‘perfect’ song he wrote many years before. From here, an adventure begins that sees music invade Malcolm and January’s worlds in a unique and magical way.

Malcolm Kidd and the Perfect Song comes from first-time comic book creator Austin Paramore. A Jazz musician in his youth, Paramore grew up in a Chicago neighbourhood that boasted legendary musical residents such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock. The undercurrent of this personal experience in the book is strong, as Paramore impressively weaves the supernatural elements into Malcom’s everyday world with on-point dialogue that feels authentic, keeping you up close and personal with the story.

Paramore has shown high-level storytelling straight out of the gates as Malcolm Kidd covers essential topics about the trials of growing up while telling a supernatural mystery and inserting clever ideas into the story’s beats. For example, when Malcom is introduced, he’s being mugged on the subway. However, after taking stock of his target, the friendly neighbourhood mugger takes pity, handing him a Granola bar and a new down-beat nickname. This sets up Malcolm as a sympathetic protagonist who drives the story’s tone as he and January slip further into a mysterious rabbit hole.

The relationships between Malcolm and January add tons of heart to the tale that will resonate with young and old readers alike. Added to this is a nice dose of well-timed humour that keeps the rhythm and good feeling going to the end. Ultimately, this story is about how the search for perfection can be all-consuming, wrapped around a down-to-earth coming-of-age tale with a little sprinkling of magic.

The visual world of Malcolm Kidd has a wholesome, cartoonish sheen. The Panel layouts zip everything along with a nice rhythm that’s cradled within the warm colour palette of milky white, soft brown and grey.

Malcolm Kidd and the Search for the Perfect Song is a heart-warming, fresh, magical coming-of-age tale that will delight its intended young audience, but it’s a deeply moving human story that has something for readers of all ages.

Wrting-4
Art-3.5
Colors-3.5

SCORE:
3.5/5

Writer-Austin Paramore
Artist-Sarah Bollinger
Inker-Marika Cresta