The Pathfinders Society, Vol. 3 - The Legend of the Lost Boy

With this graphic novel, we reach the third and final book in the saga of the Pathfinders Society.  It's been a fun, three-book ride, and this last book provides readers with a conclusion to the five kids' quest to uncover the truth behind the Merriweather mystery and the alleged "treasure" that the family was trying to find, as well as whatever really happened to Henry Merriweather all those years ago.  While each book has had its own self-contained portion of the tale, there is an over-arching story that makes for some interesting reading.

The Legend of the Lost Boy picks up shortly after the end of book 2, The Curse of the Crystal Cavern, as the kids - Kyle, Beth, Harry, Victoria (Vic), and Nate - find themselves mysteriously transported back to 1962.  Nate has had a very strange dream, where he finds himself on the ship, The Lost Boy, and a mysterious stranger warns him he must hurry because the path is fading.  What that means, however, is unknown - Nate just knows that time is running out.  The kids are concerned about finding a way back to their own time, and they eventually enlist the aid of Mildred Merriweather (who they knew as an elderly woman in their own time, but how is a pre-teen in this time) to help them out.  Which involves getting a cranky old man named Gideon, who used to be a pathfinder himself, to lead them to the ringing rocks.  He is reluctant, only agreeing to do so once they find a map that shows the way.   It's a dangerous trip down a treacherous river that seems to fight against them, and then a race against time to find the right rocks to "ring" before a deadly wind dragon takes them away.  And once they hit that right combination of rocks?  Well, let's just say the story gets really interesting from there...

Writers Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian stay spot-on with the characterization, and it is fun to read the interaction among the characters as they face new challenges in this book.  The story moves quickly, but not so fast that the readers feels like he or she has missed anything.  Steve Hamaker does a fantastic job with the art, although I will say something I noticed more in this volume than in the previous two is that it seems all of the eyes of his characters are opened wide nearly all the time, as if they are surprised or in shock.  I think that has a direct affect on the expressions of the characters, so there does not seem to be much variation from which the reader can tell the emotional state of the characters just from the art.  Thankfully, the art mixed with the dialogue and story help keep that from becoming too much of an issue.

Overall, this has been a fun series, and while the story provided a very satisfying conclusion, I do wish there were more stories to tell of these young pathfinders.  Perhaps Sedita, Seraydarian, and Hamaker will eventually come up with another tale they just have to tell, and we'll get a sequel series ... only time will tell!

RATING:  9 outdated camp uniforms out of 10 for a great mix of mystery, comics, and time traveling to make for a fun read!

The Pathfinders Society, Vol. 2 - The Curse of the Crystal Cavern

Kyle, Beth, Harry, Victoria, and Nate are back for the second part of their search for the hidden treasure!  In the first graphic novel, writers Francesco Sedita and Prescott Serfaydarian and artist Steve Hamaker introduced us to these five youngsters who find themselves drawn into the world of the Pathfinders Society after they learn that Henry Merriweather, a famous adventurer from years ago, may have left behind a treasure that only the truly dedicated and adventurous can find!  At the strange Moon Tower, the kids uncovered a box that contained a jeweled hand, a guidebook, and a very odd device that they had no clue how to use.  Well, now, in this second volume, their adventure continues...

The Curse of the Crystal Cavern opens with a glimpse into the past, as we learn that Henry Merriweather was not an only child - he had a brother named Jacob who was just as interested as Henry in danger and adventure.  They are each gifted a small jeweled hand to represent the bonds of their brotherhood - and just as we (the reader) are about to discover more about the two young Merriweathers, we are drawn back into the present where Kyle seems to have been having a flashback (of what we just saw).  He rejoins his friends as they explore the underground tunnels and the path headlined by the phrase, "Plus Ultra!"  Sedita and Serfaydarian send these young pathfinders on a journey unlike any other, where each of their skills and knowledge-set is put to the test to help them through the various traps, mazes, and riddles put in front of them.  

The story is chock full of cryptic clues and peril at every turn - but the Pathfinders never give up hope and keep following the path that lay before them.  Along the way, they have another vision from the past to learn exactly what happened to break the bond between Henry and Jacob Merriweather and why Fairly seems so intent on buying up the Merriweather estate.  So, if the Pathfinders have any hope of finding the treasure, they must no only figure out all of the puzzles left by Henry Merriweather, but they must also evade the ever-present Mr. Fairly, whose construction and demolition crew seem to be everywhere.  Plus, Sedita and Serfaydarian offer up a very surprising cliffhanger at the end of this volume that definitely brought me back to my days of watching Dark Shadows (and for those who know me, and who know my favorite storyline from Dark Shadows, then you'll have an idea of what happens at this end of this book!).

The art in this volume is absolutely exceptional!  Hamaker makes the caverns feel dark and spooky, and at times, even cramped, so much so that even the reader feels like they are right there with the kids as they make their way down one tunnel after another in search of the clues to the treasure.  His transitions between past and present are almost cinematic, as one panel flows so smoothly into the next.  Hamaker is definitely getting more of a feel for the characters and their environments, and I can hardly wait to see what he has in store for the next book.

Sedita, Serfaydarian, and Hamaker have created a thrilling series with characters that you can't help but like (or hate, as the case may be) and a story full of adventure, suspense, surprises, and mystery.    Can't wait for volume three to come out!

RATING:  9 musty volumes of minutes out of 10 for furthering the mystery of the Merriweather treasure in way that only draws you more into the story than ever before!

The Pathfinders Society, Vol. 1 - The Mystery of the Moon Tower

I keep telling myself I won't be picking up any new series.  I repeat to myself over and over that I collect enough series right now, so many that I can't read all the new books that come out fast enough. I think to myself that I will have enough willpower to say "NO" to any new series that comes along and strikes my interest.  Then, of course, I see something, and all those thoughts just disappear! Such is the case with this first volume of The Pathfinders Society series of graphic novel mysteries for young readers. 

"The Mystery of the Moon Tower" is an introduction to the characters and world of The Pathfinders Society. Written by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian and illustrated by Steve Hamaker, the story centers around a group of young pre-teens at Camp Pathfinder who set out on a scavenger hunt that quickly leads to a search for a long-lost treasure by the man to established by the camp's founder, Henry Merriweather.  Five unlikely kids get thrown together as a group and quickly find that they each possess skills that compliment the others, which, of course, will ultimately help them on their quest to find the lost treasure.

Kyle is the new kid who has an aptitude for drawing. Beth is the history expert who also happens to be extremely organized. Harry is the kid-clown of the group, always teasing, but who has the inane ability to see what others may miss. Victoria is a popular cheerleader who has a hidden talent with math and puzzles. And Nate is the kid genius who loves to invent things from whatever he has at hand.  Each one on their own is not particularly special - but throw them together, even unwillingly, and suddenly you have a team of treasure-hunters who can pretty much conquer any obstacle and solve any riddle thrown before them!

The story centers around the mysterious treasure that Henry Merriweather is claimed to have been searching for in the town of Windrose - but he never found it (at least, not that anyone is aware of). When the five pre-teens are thrown together at camp and given a scavenger hunt to locate local landmarks, the adventure turns into something far more than any of them anticipated when they begin to uncover clues that Merriweather placed so that others that came after him could follow in his footsteps.  Their search leads them to Merriweather's castle home, where his great-niece gives the group free reign to explore the castle (since it is set to be foreclosed, along with the camp, due to a lack of money).  They unexpectedly discover hidden rooms and as they search through old Merriweather's belongings, they are literally transported into the past where they see what happened to Henry Merriweather when he first introduced the townspeople of his time to the mysterious Moon Tower that he had built.

Part mystery, part supernatural, part adventure - "The Mystery of the Moon Tower" is a well-written, perfectly-paced tale of fun and suspense that introduces readers to the Pathfinders Society and its amazing world.  The art is somewhat cartoony in nature, but it still retains the spooky elements to create a Scooby Doo-ish feel that will leave you smiling by the time you read the last page.  The book ends with a "To Be Continued..." so here's hoping the creators are able to produce at the very least a second volume in the series, if not more!

RATING:  8 black-tie and black-out affairs out of 10 for opening up a whole new world for mystery and comic fans to enjoy!