The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue

by Jerzy Drozd, Jerzy Drozd (Artist)

Overview

"Easily one of the best graphic novels of the year." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A creative odyssey." — KIRKUS

The Inscrutable Dr. Baer, at your service!

While he's much too busy to embark on any adventures himself, Dr. Baer is here to help with yours. Are you burdened with an unwanted magical object? Gorgon's head? Monkey's paw? Flaming sword?! Sell it to Dr. Baer; he'll tame its spirit, carefully catalog its origin, and keep it safe and orderly within the walls of the spookiest house you're ever likely to find.

But when novice explorers Taft the Tortoise and Pickles the Pig accidentally enable the theft of Baer's most powerful artifact by the nefarious sorcerer Gallus Lugubrious, the good doctor is forced out of his house to reclaim it. The only problem is, for everything he knows about magic, he knows nothing about adventuring, and he'll have to figure this one out as he goes, far from the comforting safety of home.

In over his head, along with his equally inexperienced new allies, Dr. Baer sets out on a dangerous quest through a world of monsters and magic to set things right . . . and to find his next chapter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781638991434
Publisher:	Iron Circus Comics
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Series:	The Inscrutable Doctor Baer
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	7.17(w) x 10.12(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jerzy Drozd is a cartoonist and teaching artist. He wrote and illustrated Science Comics: Rockets with his wife, Anne Drozd, and he is one of the artists of The Warren Commission Report graphic novel adaptation. Jerzy leads cartooning workshops for children and teens in libraries and schools, as well as for teachers who want to bring comics to the classroom. He's also a member of the Ohio Arts Council's Teaching Artist roster and hosts multiple podcasts about comics and how to make them, such as How to Be a Teaching Artist and Lean into Art. Jerzy has drawn special projects for Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Marvel Comics, VIZ Media, and many others.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Like The Three Musketeers meets Raiders Of The Lost Ark if everyone was designed by E. H. Shepard. A great big book made from scoops of adventure, amazing characters, and mysterious cursed objects. Jerzy Drozd has concocted an enticing story and his artwork is the cherry on top!” — Jeff Smith, author of Bone

 

“A mummy mouse, a chicken sorcerer, a fire skeleton foodie . . . oh my! Jerzy Drozd has woven a heartfelt tale for kids to delight in as they follow the bookish Doctor Baer on his first grand adventure. It’s impossible not to cheer along with this rambunctious crew of critters, admire the gorgeously drawn vistas, and wish for one’s own battle tortoise to snuggle with during story time.” — Vicki Wong, co-creator of The Octonauts

 

“A magical, mystical roller coaster, that every kid should buy a ticket and ride twice.” — Judd Winick, author of Hilo

 

“Doctor Baer joins Winnie the Pooh and Paddington as adorable bears whose adventures offer real insight into human emotions and empathy.” — Gregg Schigiel, author of the Zooperhero Universe series

"What's not to love about this middle grade graphic novel? It has adventure, funny sidekicks, spooky enchanted objects, a villain that does not like to be mistaken for a wizard, and of course, our hero, Doctor Baer who is, by the way, a teddy bear. Jerzy Drozd created a fun and fantastical world with illustrations that bring the whole thing to life. A must read!" — Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

Editorial Reviews

"Well-organized and well-told. . . . A home run." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Science Comics: Rockets)

"A plethora of data with crisp visuals that approximate the flow of a top-notch documentary." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Starred Review (The Warren Commission Report)

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2024

Gr 3–6—Dr. Baer revels in keeping relics with mystic or monstrous capabilities in the confines of his home. When two bumbling adventurers accidentally release all his artifacts into the wild, it's up to Dr. Baer to save the day, and more importantly, to finally help the creatures that he was unintentionally imprisoning. With this graphic novel, Drozd pulls off a magic trick not seen since Jeff Smith's "Bone" series, as both are filled with rich lore yet remain accessible to young readers. The book is terrifying at times but kid-friendly overall, modern and topical yet timeless, deeply moving and impactful while also lighthearted. The artwork feels just as iconic and enduring. Vivid detail makes the grotesque monsters come to the life, while a watered-down color palette makes the creatures vulnerable, matching the tone of the piece. VERDICT Magical and fresh, this is easily one of the best graphic novels of the year. —Peter Blenski

School Library Journal

2024-06-15
Ursine occult scholar Doctor Baer lives in gloomy seclusion with his many wards, demonic creatures who are under his stewardship.

When dastardly sorcerer Gallus Lugubrious attempts to steal Baer’s precious Stone Guardian statue and it shatters, he must team up with kindhearted Pickles (a pig) and cynical Taft (a giant tortoise) to retrieve the pieces. The uptight little brown bear, who wears a blue suit and an impassive expression, has never had reason to venture beyond his front door. He faces a steep learning curve that includes encounters with a cavalcade of supernatural horrors, strange adventurers, and a talking magic staff. But the demons have secrets relating to past traumas, and as the group makes their way through unforgiving natural landscapes, Baer begins to learn how a listening ear can heal. The phantasmagorical trip takes readers to a lost city in the jungle, across snowy peaks, and to the bottom of the sea, all rendered in luscious detail. This is a story built on lore and one that’s well suited to the graphic format. While the breathless backstory details can be overwhelming, the care taken in portraying the environment and Drozd’s magnificent command of layout balance it out. Drozd clearly draws on a tradition of older fantasy adventure comics in a way that’s too rarely seen today. The energetic action sequences make good use of the dynamism inherent in scenes of anthropomorphized animals using complicated magic.

A creative odyssey. (excerpts from Doctor Baer’s files, map)(Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews