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Peter Panzerfaust #1
Peter Panzerfaust, Vol. 1: The Great Escape
A coming of age tale told through the eyes of a group of French orphans during World War 2 who are saved by a brave and daring American boy named Peter. As they travel together, they get tangled up in the French Resistance in Paris, fighting a growing German presence under the leadership of a fanatical SS officer hell bent on wiping them out! Using the Peter Pan story as a touchstone, Peter Panzerfaust reinvents familiar character and plot elements in a unique and creative way.
Collects Peter Panzerfaust #1-5
Collects Peter Panzerfaust #1-5
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2012
About the author
Kurtis J. Wiebe
160 books770 followersKurtis Wiebe is a Stockholm, Sweden based author. The founder and creative director of Vast Vision Studios, he comes from a decade long career in comics and games. He is the co-creator of over ten original comic series and a content creator spanning podcasts, live streams and other digital media. His stories have garnered multiple industry awards including two coveted Shuster’s for best writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 11, 2024
3.5 stars
" . . . and then he appeared from nowhere. Like he had been there all along. Just . . . my eyes had failed to see him. He loved a grand entrance. That was Peter's way." -- on page 5
Take the Peter Pan mythos and mix it with a grounded World War II narrative for the result to be Wiebe's Peter Panzerfaust. Although the cover art misleadingly suggests something akin to a spirited action romp such as Marvel's Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos or the old ABC-TV series The Rat Patrol (PLUS the name-checking of one of my favorite WWII movies in this volume's subtitle), the story - recounted by an octogenarian in the present day - was often more appropriately melancholy in tone. In 1940, a mysterious American teen appears to lead a group of adolescent French orphans from their bombed out home in Calais to the safety of Paris, dodging the invading German army along the way with a combination of luck and true grit. The best moment occurs late in the tale, when the narrator - who was troubled by the death of one of his young friends in battle - finds that the always-upbeat Peter is also secretly in mourning. The two weep together in private, quietly providing an all-too-human reaction in an otherwise unconventional mingling of fantasy and drama.
" . . . and then he appeared from nowhere. Like he had been there all along. Just . . . my eyes had failed to see him. He loved a grand entrance. That was Peter's way." -- on page 5
Take the Peter Pan mythos and mix it with a grounded World War II narrative for the result to be Wiebe's Peter Panzerfaust. Although the cover art misleadingly suggests something akin to a spirited action romp such as Marvel's Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos or the old ABC-TV series The Rat Patrol (PLUS the name-checking of one of my favorite WWII movies in this volume's subtitle), the story - recounted by an octogenarian in the present day - was often more appropriately melancholy in tone. In 1940, a mysterious American teen appears to lead a group of adolescent French orphans from their bombed out home in Calais to the safety of Paris, dodging the invading German army along the way with a combination of luck and true grit. The best moment occurs late in the tale, when the narrator - who was troubled by the death of one of his young friends in battle - finds that the always-upbeat Peter is also secretly in mourning. The two weep together in private, quietly providing an all-too-human reaction in an otherwise unconventional mingling of fantasy and drama.
August 13, 2014
Three and a half stars.
For those of you who hate Peter Pan (this includes me), this version takes a look at the basic story through a distorted mirror. This volume takes place in France at the beginning of World War II. Here, Peter is an American teen, with Daddy issues*, who rescues a group of French teenagers (the proverbial Lost Boys) from an orphanage. It borrows certain elements of the Pan legend: he’s fearless, cocky, and nonchalant; the Darlings, an elusive (Tinker) Belle, and a nemesis (a German commander, Nazis = pirates). It jettisons the magic, the flying, and the crocodile with a ticking clock in its belly.
Peter’s able to lead the boys with praise, and through the strength of his will and personality. With feats of derring-do, he slowly forms the beginnings of a commando squad.
Worth a look if interested in a re-tooled Peter Pan, but the story stands alone on its own merits.
*(clink) Another character with a father complex and another nickel in the Slim Jim fund.
For those of you who hate Peter Pan (this includes me), this version takes a look at the basic story through a distorted mirror. This volume takes place in France at the beginning of World War II. Here, Peter is an American teen, with Daddy issues*, who rescues a group of French teenagers (the proverbial Lost Boys) from an orphanage. It borrows certain elements of the Pan legend: he’s fearless, cocky, and nonchalant; the Darlings, an elusive (Tinker) Belle, and a nemesis (a German commander, Nazis = pirates). It jettisons the magic, the flying, and the crocodile with a ticking clock in its belly.
Peter’s able to lead the boys with praise, and through the strength of his will and personality. With feats of derring-do, he slowly forms the beginnings of a commando squad.
Worth a look if interested in a re-tooled Peter Pan, but the story stands alone on its own merits.
*(clink) Another character with a father complex and another nickel in the Slim Jim fund.
March 2, 2021
Book: It's Peter Pan in World War II! And it's like Red Dawn too!!
Me: Okayyyyyy . . . but why?
Book: Second window to the right. Peter! Orphans! Wendy! Neverland!
Me: Well, yes, those are references to the original story, but . . .
Book: BANG! BANG! BOOM! BOOOMM!!!
Me: Why does everyone look like they are drawn exactly alike unless they have a weird penis-shaped pompadour like Peter?
Book: RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT!!
Me: Do I need to be here for this?
Book: AHROOOOO!
Me: I'll just be over there then . . .
Me: Okayyyyyy . . . but why?
Book: Second window to the right. Peter! Orphans! Wendy! Neverland!
Me: Well, yes, those are references to the original story, but . . .
Book: BANG! BANG! BOOM! BOOOMM!!!
Me: Why does everyone look like they are drawn exactly alike unless they have a weird penis-shaped pompadour like Peter?
Book: RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-TAT-TAT!!
Me: Do I need to be here for this?
Book: AHROOOOO!
Me: I'll just be over there then . . .
July 3, 2014
Peter Panzerfaust is a retelling of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan set in Nazi-occupied France in 1940 – and it’s really good!
Told from the perspective of one of the orphans Peter liberates in the opening chapter, who’s now an elderly man, The Great Escape follows Peter and the boys as they fight their way through Calais to the docks before realising escape to Britain is now impossible. Turning around, they head toward Paris in the hope that somehow the Nazi threat will be repelled and the capital will remain unscathed. But the war is only escalating and for Peter and the boys, their story is just beginning…
The Peter Pan angle isn’t that heavily played up and the only really overt reference is when Wendy Darling appears and reveals her name – without that, you could easily read this book and not notice it’s the Peter Pan story. But once you know the angle, you can see all the references: Peter, the orphans (or “lost boys”), the wolf howls, and Captain Hook who here is, of course, Kapitain Haken, an SS officer whom Peter engages in a swordfight and mutilates his left hand.
But this is definitely not a kids’ book as there’s a plenty of violence and killing which you’d expect from a WW2-set story. It’s also a thrilling survival story of a small group of teenage orphans in war-torn Europe, dodging the Nazis – and killing a fair few - who find a new family amongst their friends. There are some awesome action scenes as the boys outwit the Nazis in the streets of Calais, and Kurtis Wiebe creates some excellent characters in the group, not least of whom is the charismatic Peter.
Peter Panzerfaust Volume 1 is a highly enjoyable book and a great start to this promising series. Remember this name: Kurtis Wiebe, because between this book and Rat Queens, he’s one of the most interesting comics writers around at the moment, publishing some of the best, most original titles. Check out Peter Panzerfaust for an enthralling tale of adventure and fun set against the darkest of times.
I wonder if a crocodile with a ticking belly shows up later on…
Told from the perspective of one of the orphans Peter liberates in the opening chapter, who’s now an elderly man, The Great Escape follows Peter and the boys as they fight their way through Calais to the docks before realising escape to Britain is now impossible. Turning around, they head toward Paris in the hope that somehow the Nazi threat will be repelled and the capital will remain unscathed. But the war is only escalating and for Peter and the boys, their story is just beginning…
The Peter Pan angle isn’t that heavily played up and the only really overt reference is when Wendy Darling appears and reveals her name – without that, you could easily read this book and not notice it’s the Peter Pan story. But once you know the angle, you can see all the references: Peter, the orphans (or “lost boys”), the wolf howls, and Captain Hook who here is, of course, Kapitain Haken, an SS officer whom Peter engages in a swordfight and mutilates his left hand.
But this is definitely not a kids’ book as there’s a plenty of violence and killing which you’d expect from a WW2-set story. It’s also a thrilling survival story of a small group of teenage orphans in war-torn Europe, dodging the Nazis – and killing a fair few - who find a new family amongst their friends. There are some awesome action scenes as the boys outwit the Nazis in the streets of Calais, and Kurtis Wiebe creates some excellent characters in the group, not least of whom is the charismatic Peter.
Peter Panzerfaust Volume 1 is a highly enjoyable book and a great start to this promising series. Remember this name: Kurtis Wiebe, because between this book and Rat Queens, he’s one of the most interesting comics writers around at the moment, publishing some of the best, most original titles. Check out Peter Panzerfaust for an enthralling tale of adventure and fun set against the darkest of times.
I wonder if a crocodile with a ticking belly shows up later on…
March 2, 2021
A decent WWII war story told from the prospective of one of the "Lost Boys" reflecting back on the war as an old man. I'm not really sure why Wiebe decided to tie this into the Peter Pan story as the connections are superfluous at best. He's basically just taken the personalities of the characters and dropped all the rest. There's no magic, "Neverland" is what Wendy called France, and Captain Hook is a German captain. When I first heard about the book, I expected more of a co-mingling of the two settings. That being said, it is a pretty good war comic on its own merits.
August 13, 2015
So I picked this up on a recommendation from my lovely friend Chelsea who had already read and very much enjoyed this series. She told me that this was a sort of updated and modernised version of Peter Pan, set in a war-zone time period. I, naturally, thought it sounded hugely intriguing and didn't need to know anything more before I went ahead and bought Volume 1 to try it out. It also helps that we have pretty similar tastes in Graphic Novels and so I knew that the artwork would be pretty too.
So, this is exactly what I said above, a Peter Pan 'remake' essentially but set during the World War. We follow a group of Orphans who, when a bomb goes off at their orphanage, meet another young boy called Peter who leads them away from the scene and into yet more trouble and adventure (see the resemblance to the Lost Boys is already there).
Along the way we get to know the boys a bit more and we see the story from the pov of one of them who has grown old and is recounting the story to a younger man. I liked this style of recounting and felt that it worked well for the book.
The art style is indeed very nice with a lot of bold colours, although neutral tones, setting the scene for the action to happen. As it is a war-focused book there are a lot of big explosions and moments of destruction which leads to some wonderful panoramic 2-pg spreads (my favourite in Vol. 1 being the page of the docks at sunset with the ships aflame).
The only slight quibble I had with the artwork was the faces, particularly the eyes, because occasionally I felt they didn't look quite as thought-out as some other parts and sometimes one pupil was strangely bigger than the other, but this is a very minor complaint and probably something that is only likely to bother me. Other than that the art work was solid and pretty, action-packed and clear and you could tell who was who fairly easily.
I loved the fact that there was a lot of french language snippets included in the storyline because it was set within France and I found that my very basic school lessons in French were enough to help me translate and understand it all. I also imagined all the characters a lot easier due to the language change because it meant that I imagined them all with a French accent and could believe in it all a bit more.
Overall a very solid beginning to what no doubt becomes a better story. I am very much looking forward to picking up the next volume, and I can't wait to see where the boys and the story will go next! :) 4*s
So, this is exactly what I said above, a Peter Pan 'remake' essentially but set during the World War. We follow a group of Orphans who, when a bomb goes off at their orphanage, meet another young boy called Peter who leads them away from the scene and into yet more trouble and adventure (see the resemblance to the Lost Boys is already there).
Along the way we get to know the boys a bit more and we see the story from the pov of one of them who has grown old and is recounting the story to a younger man. I liked this style of recounting and felt that it worked well for the book.
The art style is indeed very nice with a lot of bold colours, although neutral tones, setting the scene for the action to happen. As it is a war-focused book there are a lot of big explosions and moments of destruction which leads to some wonderful panoramic 2-pg spreads (my favourite in Vol. 1 being the page of the docks at sunset with the ships aflame).
The only slight quibble I had with the artwork was the faces, particularly the eyes, because occasionally I felt they didn't look quite as thought-out as some other parts and sometimes one pupil was strangely bigger than the other, but this is a very minor complaint and probably something that is only likely to bother me. Other than that the art work was solid and pretty, action-packed and clear and you could tell who was who fairly easily.
I loved the fact that there was a lot of french language snippets included in the storyline because it was set within France and I found that my very basic school lessons in French were enough to help me translate and understand it all. I also imagined all the characters a lot easier due to the language change because it meant that I imagined them all with a French accent and could believe in it all a bit more.
Overall a very solid beginning to what no doubt becomes a better story. I am very much looking forward to picking up the next volume, and I can't wait to see where the boys and the story will go next! :) 4*s
April 6, 2015
An interesting take on the Peter Pan story. Wiebe moves the action to World War II France and extracts all the fantasy. Honestly, that sounded like less than fun to me. Isn't the joy of Peter Pan in the fantasy? What good is a Peter who can't fly, and who doesn't make the acquaintance of mermaids? But something convinced me to give it a shot. Probably that cover, with the Lost Boys joyriding in a jeep.
I'm glad that I did. Personally, I picked up quite a few references to the original, though I don't doubt that somebody better versed in Peter Pan could find more. The references make sense in the new context, and can be rather clever. I'm very interested in seeing where Wiebe is going with Belle, for example, and the Darlings show up in a way that was quite surprising to me.
And the story holds up as more than just a series of callbacks. The boys have definite, and distinct personalities, which makes it easier to follow the large cast. The framing narrative, with an elderly Toodles telling his story as part of an interview, allows for some perspective on what's going on, and makes it clear that this adventure is just beginning.
But the writing could be a bit clumsy at times, and the violence sometimes seemed more cartoony than I think was intended. Neither were enough to turn me off the series, by any means, but they were minor flaws. I'm not sure yet if I'll finish off the series, but I'll at least put in a few more volumes.
I'm glad that I did. Personally, I picked up quite a few references to the original, though I don't doubt that somebody better versed in Peter Pan could find more. The references make sense in the new context, and can be rather clever. I'm very interested in seeing where Wiebe is going with Belle, for example, and the Darlings show up in a way that was quite surprising to me.
And the story holds up as more than just a series of callbacks. The boys have definite, and distinct personalities, which makes it easier to follow the large cast. The framing narrative, with an elderly Toodles telling his story as part of an interview, allows for some perspective on what's going on, and makes it clear that this adventure is just beginning.
But the writing could be a bit clumsy at times, and the violence sometimes seemed more cartoony than I think was intended. Neither were enough to turn me off the series, by any means, but they were minor flaws. I'm not sure yet if I'll finish off the series, but I'll at least put in a few more volumes.
February 15, 2013
I don't like Peter Pan. I don't like the idea. I don't like the book. I like the Disney movie only very little, and I've never bothered seeing it on stage. I don't like either of the live action film versions I can think of at the moment. I just don't like it, so it is no surprise that I like Peter Panzerfaust much, much better than everything that's come before it.
It didn't need to do a whole hell of a lot to get there, though. But it did, which is good because this is a truly inspired take. Peter Pan (the lone Yankee) and his French Lost Boys as Resistance to the Nazis in WWII France? It is precisely as cool as it sounds. We've already seen Untersturmfuhrer Hook for a moment (pre-hand loss). We have an appropriately spunky Peter. Wendy and her brothers are there in peripheral supporting roles, and joy of joys, the narrative has been delivered by one of the Lost Boys himself.
Image is producing some excellent comics at the moment. If you're a fan of the medium, you should check out what they've got in their stable at the moment. Image is doing it right.
It didn't need to do a whole hell of a lot to get there, though. But it did, which is good because this is a truly inspired take. Peter Pan (the lone Yankee) and his French Lost Boys as Resistance to the Nazis in WWII France? It is precisely as cool as it sounds. We've already seen Untersturmfuhrer Hook for a moment (pre-hand loss). We have an appropriately spunky Peter. Wendy and her brothers are there in peripheral supporting roles, and joy of joys, the narrative has been delivered by one of the Lost Boys himself.
Image is producing some excellent comics at the moment. If you're a fan of the medium, you should check out what they've got in their stable at the moment. Image is doing it right.
March 29, 2023
A World War II graphic novel chronicling the exploits of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, and the Darling children. The charismatic Peter leads a resistance cell in occupied France. The Lost Boys are orphaned French teenagers who fall in with him and become his soldiers. The Darling children survive a plane crash that kills their parents. And there’s a fanatical SS officer bent on hunting Peter down; you may recognize him once he shows up.
I was suspicious of this before I read it because the concept seemed somewhat silly. The execution, though, is amazing. Peter’s personality seems otherworldly in the context of the war, but he’s a natural leader and dedicated to the cause. His nemesis Hook is chilling, reinvented here as an SS officer. The story is told as a series of interviews with the surviving Lost Boys, now elderly, which gives it an extra note of nostalgia and sadness.
Peter Panzerfaust is complete in five paperback volumes, and I think there’s also a reprinting in ombnibus or large hardcovers.
I was suspicious of this before I read it because the concept seemed somewhat silly. The execution, though, is amazing. Peter’s personality seems otherworldly in the context of the war, but he’s a natural leader and dedicated to the cause. His nemesis Hook is chilling, reinvented here as an SS officer. The story is told as a series of interviews with the surviving Lost Boys, now elderly, which gives it an extra note of nostalgia and sadness.
Peter Panzerfaust is complete in five paperback volumes, and I think there’s also a reprinting in ombnibus or large hardcovers.
January 15, 2016
Quarter of the way into this I felt like giving up on this book. I decided to push on and just get thru it. It wasn't till half way thru that I got that it was a Peter Pan themed WWII story, but that still wasn't enough to make me enjoy this. I will try one more volume before I decide that I do not like this series.
July 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. An inventive retelling of the Peter Pan myth set in WWII France. There is a certain whimsy and elegance to the artwork that adds an extra layer of depth to the story as a whole. Each character has moments of their own that elucidate certain aspects of their personalities so you feel like you're getting to know the group along with everyone else. I'm excited to read the next story arch.
August 28, 2014
This is an incredibly awesome re-imagining of Peter Pan and crew as orphans in occupied France. As I may have said previously in these reviews, I am a literal reader, so I sometimes have difficulty when the action in a frame is unclear. And I have worse difficulty when the action is inferred between the frames. Which leads to the decision to rate this book as merely 4-*s, as it is still a little rough-around-the-edges as far as visual and literary storytelling goes.
June 17, 2014
A fun take on the Peter Pan mythos
March 8, 2020
Nothing special, mundane retelling of a much too retold story. Art is mediocre too.
June 23, 2020
Once upon a time a friend and I set out to watch as many versions of Peter Pan as we could find. Disney, all the live action movies, two different stage plays, a black-and-white, a dollar-bin knockoff, Hook, Finding Neverland, the whole works. So naturally, I've been wanting to read this book ever since I heard of the concept. The story of Peter Pan inserted into World War 2? Sign me up! I was excited to see yet another retelling of Peter Pan, especially since this one came with a cool gimmick.
Oh, but it's so much more than a gimmick. To call this a retelling is misleadingly inaccurate and sells the story far short of what it really is. It's less a retelling and more of a reimagining. Peter Panzerfaust is its own story. It is clearly inspired by and alludes to Peter Pan in lots of fun little winks and easter eggs, but you won't find a one-to-one correspondence to story beats or even major plot points. Even though Peter Panzerfaust is completely grounded in a more realistic setting, Kurtis Wiebe is able to capture the brash, boisterous, swashbuckling spirit of Peter Pan and even improve upon it in certain ways. The Lost Boys get more personality than I'm used to them having, for instance, and Peter is a much more noble kind of hero in addition to being a cocky, lucky, wild boy.
The art is a perfect kind of choice for this kind of book. It's simple without being too cartoony, gritty without being too grim. Peter's constant smirk is perfect, and the action is conveyed in a way that makes me shocked and enraged at the injustice that this has not been made into a movie yet. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Oh, but it's so much more than a gimmick. To call this a retelling is misleadingly inaccurate and sells the story far short of what it really is. It's less a retelling and more of a reimagining. Peter Panzerfaust is its own story. It is clearly inspired by and alludes to Peter Pan in lots of fun little winks and easter eggs, but you won't find a one-to-one correspondence to story beats or even major plot points. Even though Peter Panzerfaust is completely grounded in a more realistic setting, Kurtis Wiebe is able to capture the brash, boisterous, swashbuckling spirit of Peter Pan and even improve upon it in certain ways. The Lost Boys get more personality than I'm used to them having, for instance, and Peter is a much more noble kind of hero in addition to being a cocky, lucky, wild boy.
The art is a perfect kind of choice for this kind of book. It's simple without being too cartoony, gritty without being too grim. Peter's constant smirk is perfect, and the action is conveyed in a way that makes me shocked and enraged at the injustice that this has not been made into a movie yet. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
December 11, 2023
Peter Panzerfaust, Volume 1: The Great Escape was the first installment of the Peter Panzerfaust, and takes the story of Peter Pan, but puts in through the lens of WWII in France. We are met with a rebellious, seemingly indestructible, and almost childlike American, named Peter, who saves a bunch of French orphans, and they are going on a journey to escape German soldiers and find (what they presume to be) safety in Paris. This was an interesting concept, but... it weirdly felt like that was all it was. The story felt like it was all just someone explaining the concept to me, rather than telling me the story... if that makes sense. Maybe I need to read Volume 2 to fully appreciate it.
August 10, 2019
What a cool concept! I love WWII books and this Peter Pan twist is super interesting. Kurtis Wiebe tells a story of a group of French orphans who meet a young American boy named Peter who completely changes their lives. I like the way the story is laid out and the art by Tyler Jenkins fits really well. I think this series could turn out to be spectacular.
March 23, 2018
I like when they take a story like Peter Pan and revamp it for a new audience. The issue here is the lack of risks and safety net surrounding the characters. Why choose a WWII setting and not dive head first into the atrocities that surrounded the German army? There is potential here for a grand story but this first volume struggles with identity, maybe the next volume may course correct. The creative team have twisted the Peter Pan narrative around so they can now begin throwing the curve balls at the audience. I have this at a firm 3, good but not great. The first volumes tend to be mixed for these high concept ideas.
December 14, 2016
With a nod to Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, Wiebe frames his story of Peter, the lost boy, Wendy, John and Michael Darling, in the memories of one of the boys, Gilbert, recalling the events that brought them all together. It begins with the German invasion of France in June 1940. The British has already retreated and the Germans were bombing France into submission. The lost boys are a bunch of French orphans in Calais whose orphanage is bombed one day. Wondering what to do, the meet an American boy named Peter, on quest to find a girl named Belle. Before Peter leads them to a safe place, the boys encounter some Germans and have it out with them, and acquire some weapons. After a few days of hiding, getting to know each other, and more fighting with Germans, they head out for Paris, with plenty of adventures. Along the way a small plane is shot down, and the only survivors are Wendy, John and Michael, who end up traveling with Peter and the lost boys to Paris, where they find more adventure, fighting and become more organized.
I didn't expect to like this graphic novel very much but I was surprised how much I did like it. It is an easy story to follow, the boys all have a distinct look of their own so you never get them confused as happens in some graphic novels, and it is clear when the story jumps to the present and Gilbert's memories and the past, where the action happens.
There is some violence, some French cursing, but on the whole it is an enjoyable story and a nice start to the Peter Panzerfaust series. This is a nice reimagining of the Peter Pan, although resemblance isn't really distracting, because it only extends to how the boys meet and form a band, and are later joined by the Darling kids. J.M. Barrie's Peter and lost boys never had adventures like the boys in this story.
This is a nice addition to the graphic novel genre and fans of that will be happy to read this first volume in the adventures of Peter and his band of boys.
I didn't expect to like this graphic novel very much but I was surprised how much I did like it. It is an easy story to follow, the boys all have a distinct look of their own so you never get them confused as happens in some graphic novels, and it is clear when the story jumps to the present and Gilbert's memories and the past, where the action happens.
There is some violence, some French cursing, but on the whole it is an enjoyable story and a nice start to the Peter Panzerfaust series. This is a nice reimagining of the Peter Pan, although resemblance isn't really distracting, because it only extends to how the boys meet and form a band, and are later joined by the Darling kids. J.M. Barrie's Peter and lost boys never had adventures like the boys in this story.
This is a nice addition to the graphic novel genre and fans of that will be happy to read this first volume in the adventures of Peter and his band of boys.
October 2, 2012
Reason for Reading: I like WWII stories and I like reimagined fairy tales. This appealed to my tastes.
This is a very well done historical tale of a group of French orphans who survive the blasting of their orphanage in Calais. As they are trying to survive and decide what to do next they meet a charismatic American boy, Peter, who readily takes charge of the group and they set off to first just escape Calais, then later head to Paris where they assume they will be safer.
The dynamics of the children are good. They are all around the same age 14-16, some being leaders, others followers, some more gung ho while others are more timid and afraid. A well-rounded group of kids. Peter, however, is a bit larger than life. He seems to have no fear, thrives on it actually and just naturally becomes the leader with little resistance from anyone. He doesn't have super abilities but he comes out unscathed where it seems impossible.
The elements of Peter Pan have been wound into the story well. Of course there is the obvious leader Peter, the thinking of the orphans as Lost Boys, the eventual rescuing of the Darling children, but there are more subtle ones as well. Peter mentions his looking for a woman named "Belle" before the war started, in one scene as Peter crosses a room that is being riddled with bullets his shape is left upon the wall, ie his shadow, their are instances when Peter "flies", Wendy has dreamt of being able to live in a Neverland and so on. An enjoyable story with its connections to the Peter Pan tale; there is no magic in it and I hope future volumes continue that way, but it is obvious there is something not quite right about Peter and it will be interesting find out what his mystery is.
This is a very well done historical tale of a group of French orphans who survive the blasting of their orphanage in Calais. As they are trying to survive and decide what to do next they meet a charismatic American boy, Peter, who readily takes charge of the group and they set off to first just escape Calais, then later head to Paris where they assume they will be safer.
The dynamics of the children are good. They are all around the same age 14-16, some being leaders, others followers, some more gung ho while others are more timid and afraid. A well-rounded group of kids. Peter, however, is a bit larger than life. He seems to have no fear, thrives on it actually and just naturally becomes the leader with little resistance from anyone. He doesn't have super abilities but he comes out unscathed where it seems impossible.
The elements of Peter Pan have been wound into the story well. Of course there is the obvious leader Peter, the thinking of the orphans as Lost Boys, the eventual rescuing of the Darling children, but there are more subtle ones as well. Peter mentions his looking for a woman named "Belle" before the war started, in one scene as Peter crosses a room that is being riddled with bullets his shape is left upon the wall, ie his shadow, their are instances when Peter "flies", Wendy has dreamt of being able to live in a Neverland and so on. An enjoyable story with its connections to the Peter Pan tale; there is no magic in it and I hope future volumes continue that way, but it is obvious there is something not quite right about Peter and it will be interesting find out what his mystery is.
September 7, 2012
Peter Pan was not a big part of my childhood. Oh, I knew who he was, but those stories (and the Disney appearances) were never really on my radar. That could explain why I liked Peter Panzerfaust so much.
The story begins with a reporter named Parsons interviewing Gilbert Agnew, a survivor of the Nazi bombing of Calais in 1940. Gilbert relates the tale of how he and several other boys from a local orphanage were rescued by a free-wheeling, danger-loving stranger named Peter. The boys are skeptical at first; maybe this lanky young man with the strangely waving hair and pixie-like grin poses more of a threat than the Nazis. Gilbert tells the reporter that being around Peter was “like being chased by a wild dog.” Would the boys really be safer with Peter, trying to sneak away 150 miles to Paris or hiding out in a collapsed orphanage?
Peter Panzerfaust is an interesting mix of adventure and survival, a coming-of-age story with consequences, sort of a Neverland-meets-the-brutality-of-war. A lot of odd (I wouldn’t exactly say “strange”) things happen to make you wonder just what’s going on here, but nothing that’s so beyond your reach that would cause frustration. Wiebe and Jenkins provide just the right amount of humor and darkness to make Peter Panzerfaust one of the most interesting graphic novels of the year.
The story begins with a reporter named Parsons interviewing Gilbert Agnew, a survivor of the Nazi bombing of Calais in 1940. Gilbert relates the tale of how he and several other boys from a local orphanage were rescued by a free-wheeling, danger-loving stranger named Peter. The boys are skeptical at first; maybe this lanky young man with the strangely waving hair and pixie-like grin poses more of a threat than the Nazis. Gilbert tells the reporter that being around Peter was “like being chased by a wild dog.” Would the boys really be safer with Peter, trying to sneak away 150 miles to Paris or hiding out in a collapsed orphanage?
Peter Panzerfaust is an interesting mix of adventure and survival, a coming-of-age story with consequences, sort of a Neverland-meets-the-brutality-of-war. A lot of odd (I wouldn’t exactly say “strange”) things happen to make you wonder just what’s going on here, but nothing that’s so beyond your reach that would cause frustration. Wiebe and Jenkins provide just the right amount of humor and darkness to make Peter Panzerfaust one of the most interesting graphic novels of the year.
February 2, 2016
I adored Volume 1 of Rat Queens so I immediately checked to see what else my library had by Kurtis Wiebe. I'm so glad I picked this one up. I will say this, "Peter Panzerfaust, Vol. 1: The Great Escape" is never a book I would have picked up on my own. The story of Peter Pan mixed with Nazi-occupied France seems like it wouldn't work at all. How wrong I was!
I particularly like the story framing device of interviewing on of the lost boys when he's an old man. I suspect as the volumes go on we'll visit each of the surviving lost boys for their perspective. Peter himself is great fun and much less annoying than I've seen him in other adaptations. But be warned, this is no light-hearted romp. There are real stakes and it doesn't take long for tragedy to effect our heroes.
The story touches upon how those we meet in our youth disproportionately influence us for the rest of our lives, especially if there is a shared trauma. I felt for each and every one of these boys (and Wendy Darling, let's not forget).
I've already picked up the rest of the volumes and cannot wait to devour them. It's official Wiebe writes great male and female characters. It's almost like he's a really good author or something. Crazy, right??!!
I particularly like the story framing device of interviewing on of the lost boys when he's an old man. I suspect as the volumes go on we'll visit each of the surviving lost boys for their perspective. Peter himself is great fun and much less annoying than I've seen him in other adaptations. But be warned, this is no light-hearted romp. There are real stakes and it doesn't take long for tragedy to effect our heroes.
The story touches upon how those we meet in our youth disproportionately influence us for the rest of our lives, especially if there is a shared trauma. I felt for each and every one of these boys (and Wendy Darling, let's not forget).
I've already picked up the rest of the volumes and cannot wait to devour them. It's official Wiebe writes great male and female characters. It's almost like he's a really good author or something. Crazy, right??!!
July 7, 2013
Writer Kurtis Wiebe recently described his WWII tale of orphans boys becoming guerilla fighters in France a Peter Pan homage. That is a very accurate description of this told in flashback to a writer interviewing one of the surviving Lost Boys who is now an old man.
When their Calais orphanage is destroyed out of the caranage emerges American Peter Panzerfaust. Peter is brash, reckless and everything the boys are willing (or nearly willing) to follow at this stage. When events prevent them from fleeing across the channel to Britain the boys head for Paris which has yet to be taken by the Germans. They rescue three children from a plane shot down by Germans are three British children including a young woman named Wendy.
There is a touch of sadness to the old man's tale and I get the impression not only Peter but some of the other Lost Boys will not make it all the way through to the story's end. Daring and luck will take you only so far in war.
This is for those interested in a slightly take on Peter Pan.
When their Calais orphanage is destroyed out of the caranage emerges American Peter Panzerfaust. Peter is brash, reckless and everything the boys are willing (or nearly willing) to follow at this stage. When events prevent them from fleeing across the channel to Britain the boys head for Paris which has yet to be taken by the Germans. They rescue three children from a plane shot down by Germans are three British children including a young woman named Wendy.
There is a touch of sadness to the old man's tale and I get the impression not only Peter but some of the other Lost Boys will not make it all the way through to the story's end. Daring and luck will take you only so far in war.
This is for those interested in a slightly take on Peter Pan.
February 10, 2017
Having a lifelong antipathy for the character of Peter Pan - such an entitled eternal brat, and canonically a sexist pig - coloured my view of this book, without a doubt. (People always get angry when I say that. It's just the way I saw it!) I am, however, a WWII history buff, which I expected to offset the initial negative vibes.
Didn't happen, unfortunately.
The story itself was interesting enough, told through flashbacks and photos from Peter's wartime antics/heroics. But the fit felt odd, and forced. I couldn't immerse myself in either the war story nor the Peter Pan story without being pulled out of it by the other, if that makes any sense. Where classic characters can sometimes be transplanted into an original storyline and setting to great effect, this one felt strangely shoehorned.
Points for impressive and distinctive artwork, and historical accuracy as far as I could see. But I can't picture myself seeking out volume 2. It just didn't grab me at all.
Didn't happen, unfortunately.
The story itself was interesting enough, told through flashbacks and photos from Peter's wartime antics/heroics. But the fit felt odd, and forced. I couldn't immerse myself in either the war story nor the Peter Pan story without being pulled out of it by the other, if that makes any sense. Where classic characters can sometimes be transplanted into an original storyline and setting to great effect, this one felt strangely shoehorned.
Points for impressive and distinctive artwork, and historical accuracy as far as I could see. But I can't picture myself seeking out volume 2. It just didn't grab me at all.
January 26, 2015
I think this book deserves praise for its ambition, and its attention to detail, for both World War II and the story of Peter Pan. I can't say, however, that I enjoyed reading it as much as I thought I would. I think it might very well come down to the art on this one.
To me, it was difficult to distinguish the Lost boys from each other. On a visual level, it was hard to tell who was who, and there was not a lot of plot or character detail, giving us scenes that show- ok this one is tootles, the one is Pierre, etc. Really, the only true way I was able to distinguish the characters was that Peter was slightly bigger and had this over the top hair style. Tootles, who is the main character in this book ends up donning a beret at the end, which helped set him apart.
I actually like Kurtis J. Wiebe a lot, after listening to his Process Podcast, and reading Rat Queens, but this book is nowhere near Rat Queens when it comes to defining interesting main characters.
To me, it was difficult to distinguish the Lost boys from each other. On a visual level, it was hard to tell who was who, and there was not a lot of plot or character detail, giving us scenes that show- ok this one is tootles, the one is Pierre, etc. Really, the only true way I was able to distinguish the characters was that Peter was slightly bigger and had this over the top hair style. Tootles, who is the main character in this book ends up donning a beret at the end, which helped set him apart.
I actually like Kurtis J. Wiebe a lot, after listening to his Process Podcast, and reading Rat Queens, but this book is nowhere near Rat Queens when it comes to defining interesting main characters.
October 30, 2013
A re-telling of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys during WW2. It is perhaps the most compelling and heartfelt storytelling I have seen applied to these characters. The artwork expertly balances both grit and whimsy, perfectly balancing the heart of the story. I cannot fathom how much I wish I had thought of this story. It is a truly epic work and I thank my lucky stars each and every day for such staggeringly good comic book artists!
January 5, 2014
Loving this 'alternate' Peter Pan story!
I have always been a BIG fan of the Peter Pan adventures. This comic captures a lot of what made the original story great. A fantastic opening arc to what I am sure is going to be a helluva journey.
Wonderful adventure, beautiful art, and a story that makes you want to crawl into it and be a part of its grand design.
I would follow Peter, follow him anywhere.
April 26, 2016
Suspending logic in that a band of untrained orphans can spontaneously combat highly trained Nazi soldiers, this is a great read and blend of historical fiction and what I would call light fantasy, the Peter Pan element. Strangely enough, I think we've all had a friend like Peter: captivating, tragic, funny, elusive, and suddenly they're gone. Bloody brilliant artwork by Tyler Jenkins and Alex Sollazzo.
February 6, 2016
5 stars
Oh god. Yes. Yes. This is so good! The way the story is told. The characters. The art. Its all so good!
Ist about friendship and adventure!
When one of the most fascinating conflict (world war 2) meets one of the most amazing fairy tail (peter pan) can't get wrong!
Cant wait for the second volume!
Oh god. Yes. Yes. This is so good! The way the story is told. The characters. The art. Its all so good!
Ist about friendship and adventure!
When one of the most fascinating conflict (world war 2) meets one of the most amazing fairy tail (peter pan) can't get wrong!
Cant wait for the second volume!
August 22, 2016
Algo completamente novo e inesperado... muito bom!!!
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