Kaput and Zosky [Paperback]

Lewis Trondheim (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Would-be world conquerors Kaput and Zosky are at the pinnacle of their careers.  So why does victory always slip from their grasp? 

On one planet the natives surrender to Kaput and Zosky without a fight – where’s the fun in that?  On another, Kaput finds that he’s won the lottery – and the prize is invested by well-meaning people against his will until he learns he now rules their planet. He doesn’t even have to shoot anyone first!   Mayhem and hilarity abounds in these thirteen stories told with bright, cartoony art by Lewis Trondheim. 

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–The popular French comic lands in the U.S. Kaput and Zösky are power-hungry, bloodthirsty aliens determined to rule as many worlds as they can. Not that the planets have anything to fear. These are the most incompetent would-be dictators in the universe. Zösky is the clear-headed one, managing to come up with some kind of a master plan. Kaput just runs in, guns blazing. Even when they do manage to overthrow a planet, they can't hold onto it very long. On one planet, the little natives simply grant them sovereignty and this ticks Kaput off–where's the fun in that? Since the natives obey every word, the duo soon learns that running a planet of willing subjects isn't that easy, but it is hilarious for readers. The short sequences are broken up by a wordless strip featuring a hapless cosmonaut. Taken in small doses, it's perfect. As a whole book, however, the antics grow tiresome. Kaput and Zösky are sure to liven up children's collections that are big on superheroes but light on humor.–Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
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From Booklist

Kaput and Zosky are out to conquer the universe one planet at a time. The problem is that the universe just doesn’t recognize their right to rule with an iron fist. They travel from alien landscape to alien landscape—Zosky poised to try every devious strategy to seize power; Kaput ready to go in guns-a-blazing. Their lack of planning and agreement accounts for their lack of success, but they still keep on trying. As usual, Trondheim is both hilarious and irreverent; Kaput and Zosky might even be offensive if they weren’t so comically bad at being evil. Cartier’s art is a lively match for the quirky story. His simply designed characters are expressive and fresh, and he’s equally skilled at presenting the bombastic action, which he delivers with humor and wonderful comic timing. Fast-paced, quick-witted, and lots of fun. Grades 9-12. --Tina Coleman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: First Second; First Edition edition (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596431326
• ISBN-13: 978-1596431324
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,106,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny... however..., April 25, 2008

By 

Michael 'De Smurführer' Thomsen (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaput and Zosky (Paperback)

This is a very funny book. However, just so Trondheim fans ordering it won't get disappointed later on - it's worth pointing out that only little more than half of the book is actually done by Trondheim. The first half has Trondheim doing story and art all by himself. The second half mostly features stories adapted from the scripts of the Kaput & Zosky television series. The art for these stories is done by Eric Cartier, who's a fine enough artist, but not quite a genius cartoonist on the level of Trondheim. So think of the first half of the book as the main course, and the second half as the bonus feature, then you won't be disappointed. Kids reading this book probably won't care, they'll like it all.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable read, July 6, 2008

By 

Moo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kaput and Zosky (Paperback)

I was introduced to the world of Lewis Trondheim with the Fantagraphics english translation of The Hoodoodad, after which I was hooked. If your only experience with translated european comic books has been Tintin and Asterix, be prepared for a darker, more adult sort of humour. There's a bit more gore, a bit more innuendo, and a lot more craziness.

Kaput & Zosky are two aliens "dedicated to evil, addicted to shooting their blasters and conquering the universe". This is collection of 12 short stories, each about 4-6 pages long, about their attempts to "liquidate, subjugate" and "blastificate" each planet they come across, with hilarious results. Interspersed amongst these are one-pagers of The Cosmonaut satirising typical human behaviour, which are as enjoyable as the main stories themselves.

The book is slightly wider and shorter than the usual comic book size. Printing is excellent, glossy and the colors leap off the page.

Highly recommended.

Note: A lot of 'blastification' occurs; may not be suitable for younger readers.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spaced Invaders, June 27, 2009

By 

Gord Wilson "alivingdog.com" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kaput and Zosky (Paperback)

As another reviewer pointed out, the first half of this kids' comic collection is solely by Trondheim, while the next bit has the help of his friend, Eric Cartier. The only difference I note is a bit more shading in the latter bits. Do I like that? No, I like the flat, cel-animation look of the earlier part, but Cartier's title panels are actually better for it, the shading is not very noticeable, and may add to the story in some cases.
Or rather stories. A dozen, interspersed with ten one page strips titled "The Cosmonaut". Only 80 pages, you say. Yes, but they're all quality, full color, 10 X 7.5 inch pages in a stiff paperback. The art is simple but engaging, the colors dazzling, the stories quirky and amusing. French kids' comics, if you want to call them that, give kids a lot more credit than do American ones: think Tintin, Lucky Luke, Spirou and Fantasio (the origin of Marsupilami, who appeared in Disney's "Raw Toonage"). If the comic book is saved, it will be thanks to France.

Some of these stories showed up in the French/ Canadian Kaput and Zosky TV cartoons, some of which found their way onto DVD in 2005. Although I saw some of those cartoons, I didn't seem to see the ones in this book. Kids who are sick of, or have outgrown, sentimental picture books will take to these aliens with attitudes. Sad that the book is printed in China, but there it is. As for the French revolution in comics, one hopes more and more will appear in English translations. Viva la France!