Kids foil Nazi spies in colorful WWII comic

Thursday, August 19, 2010 | by yelena tsurkan

Did you know that two 10-year-olds helped win World War II? At least, that’s the story according to “City of Spies,” a new graphic novel by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan, with artwork by Pascal Dizin. In the book, plucky Evelyn and Tony get the thrill of a lifetime when they help catch Nazi spies and save America from Hitler’s evil plans.

“City of Spies” is actually a graphic novel inside of a graphic novel: Evelyn draws her own comic called “Zirconium Man and Scooter,” in which she plays the role of the intrepid sidekick Scooter and helps save the day time and time again.

Because the book is so colorful and fun, it is appropriate for younger readers who don’t know much about the Holocaust and World War II. However, more mature audiences and those who have already studied this time period will enjoy it as well.

This is Kim’s and Klavan’s first graphic novel, and their second one, called “Brain Camp,” is coming out this month. “City of Spies” has been featured at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York.

Having been abandoned by her father for the summer, Evelyn lives with her spoiled rich aunt who does not know the first thing about taking care of a child. Evelyn soon meets Tony, the son of the apartment building’s handyman. Together they go on adventures that end up getting them in trouble.

In 1942, New York City is filled with Nazi spies and paranoia and tension is at an absolute high. The police and FBI will listen to anyone as long as they have information that may help win the war — even two little kids like Evelyn and Tony. Despite coining most of their reports as “false alarms,” the paranoid police officer follows them every time.

Soon however, they discover valuable information that could save the country from the Nazis. This may be the case that deserves legitimate attention — but having cried wolf one too many times, it’s going to take more effort to get anyone to believe it.

This easy read is so captivating from the beginning that it is difficult to put it down before finishing it. The book starts off in the middle of an action scene with Zirconium Man and Scooter and doesn’t slow down until the very end. This short, quick read can almost be completed on your lunch hour.

The images are so detailed and colorful that it is hard not to easily picture yourself in the midst of the drama with Evelyn and Tony. With more illustrations than words, the reader is free to add their own imagination to the story.

“City of Spies” by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan (172 pages, First Second, $16.99)