The Rise of Aurora West

by Paul Pope, J. T. Petty, David Rubín (Illustrator)

Overview

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The extraordinary world introduced in Paul Pope's Battling Boy is rife with monsters and short on heroes... but in this action-driven extension of the Battling Boy universe, we see it through a new pair of eyes: Aurora West, daughter of Arcopolis's last great hero, Haggard West.

A prequel to Battling Boy, The Rise of Aurora West follows the young hero as she seeks to uncover the mystery of her mother's death, and to find her place in a world overrun with supernatural monsters and all-too-human corruption. With a taut, fast-paced script from Paul Pope and JT Petty and gorgeous, kinetic art from David Rubin, The Rise of Aurora West (the first of two volumes) is a tour de force in comics storytelling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466858596
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	09/30/2014
Series:	Battling Boy Series , #2
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	76 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	10 - 15 Years

About the Author

Paul Pope is the acclaimed author-illustrator of Batman: Year 100, Heavy Liquid, and 100%. He has won three Eisner Awards, and his first graphic novel for kids, Battling Boy, was a #1 New York Timesbest seller.

JT Petty is an American film director, author, and video game writer. With Paul Pope, he wrote two Battling Boy prequels: The Rise of Aurora WestandFall of the House of West.

David Rubin is a Spanish cartoonist and author of critically-acclaimed graphic novels including The Hero and Beowulf. He directed the animated feature film Spirit of the Forest and has been the subject of a documentary.

Editorial Reviews

Before she fought alongside Battling Boy for the safety of Acropolis, Aurora West was a teenaged apprentice to her father, the monster hunter/science detective Haggard West, as chronicles in this graphic novel prequel . . . Likely to please Aurora fans from the earlier title, this graphic novel also stands alone, giving readers a bright new heroine to admire.” —BCCB

“Pope's lauded Battling Boy takes place in the monster-ridden city of Acropolis, and this prequel, featuring feisty Aurora, the daughter of Acropolis' Bruce Wayne-like hero Haggard West, fills in the backstory of the city and its monster infestation . . . fans of Battling Boy will be eager to get their mitts on this thrilling installment featuring a compelling teen girl hero.” —Booklist

“Die-hard fans of the previous work will definitely want to pick up this book.” —School Library Journal

“This feels like a very different direction for the characters, and it's a thrilling one; expect readers to clamor for the next installments of this clever spinoff.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Paul Pope's delightful and original Battling Boy is the adventure of the year!” —Jeff Smith, Eisner Award-winning author of Bone on Battling Boy

“Full of energy, precision, and pure kick—not to be missed.” —Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies on Battling Boy

“A new generation hero.” —Entertainment Weekly on Battling Boy

From the Publisher

Paul Pope's delightful and original Battling Boy is the adventure of the year!

Eisner Award-winning author of Bone on Battling Bo Jeff Smith

09/01/2014
Gr 6 Up—This prequel to Battling Boy (First Second, 2013) reveals the backstories of some of the supporting characters introduced in that book. Aurora West, the daughter of science hero Haggard West, is training to be a monster hunter just like her father. While chasing down monsters that are stealing parts for a mysterious device, Aurora encounters a symbol she remembers from her past. Tracking down the origins of the symbol, she discovers that her imaginary friend from her youth was actually real, became one of the villains that she frequently battles, and may have even been involved in her mother's death. Since Aurora and her father were only briefly mentioned in the previous installment, this volume does a wonderful job of fleshing out their characters further; readers see an Aurora that's not as confident in her abilities, and a slightly jaded and darker side to her heroic father. Pope's gritty, experimental art from the original Battling Boy has been replaced by Rubin's more traditional style, giving a '60s "Silver Age" appearance to the work. Although fans will long for the old, full-colored artwork of the original, the new style works to evoke a nostalgic atmosphere. Die-hard fans of the previous work will definitely want to pick up this book, but those new to the series will want to start from the beginning of this epic sci-fi.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2014-08-12
Before Battling Boy came to slay the monsters of Arcopolis, Aurora West sought out the monsters that terrorized her city and killed her mother.Growing up in the shadow of her renowned and heroic father, Haggard West, Aurora is well-aware of the scourge of monsters that have been kidnapping children from Acropolis. Under her father's tutelage, she has been accompanying him on his nightly patrols. One night, she discovers a mysterious yet oddly familiar symbol. Her investigation leads her back to the one mystery her father could never solve and nearly drove him mad: the murder of her mother. Could Aurora hold the key to unlocking this puzzle? Fans of Pope's earlier Battling Boy (2013) may be caught a bit off guard with this new offering; the art is done in black and white and drawn by Rubin, not Pope himself. Rubin's art, however, has enough of Pope's stylistic feel to give the two books series cohesion. Those looking for answers from this or Battling Boy will have to wait a bit longer; as the story progresses, only more questions are raised. This feels like a very different direction for the characters, and it's a thrilling one; expect readers to clamor for the next installments of this clever spinoff.Markedly different than its predecessor but a worthy tale nonetheless. (Graphic adventure. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews