Harry Situation Reviews: AJ & Magnus
"You don't get to choose your family. They are God's gift to you as you are to them."
-Desmond Tutu
Families come in all shapes and sizes, don't they? Moms, dads, grandparents, cousins, married couples, and single parents. Much like my Erma review, this one is going to cover another awesome web comic titled AJ & Magnus. Think Calvin and Hobbes but Calvin had two dads, and they too are just one big happy family.
AJ & Magnus is a web comic by Bryan and Simon Steele, an actual husband-husband duo with Bryan providing the words and Simon bringing the art to life. The series centers around the life of an eight-year-old boy named AJ Parker and his best friend a mastiff named Magnus, along side are AJ's parents, Alex and John Parker (Dad & Pop). Wait a second! AJ? Alex? John? Could this mean AJ's full name is actually Alexander Jonathon Parker Jr.? DUN DUN DUU- Oh wait, it actually is. Go figure.
Other colorful characters include his best human friend Ebony Adams, whose genius intellect would match that of Tony Stark, Loca Sevilla, who serves as the friend/bully character like Buford of Phineas & Ferb and Binky from Arthur, and AJ's repulsive aunt Rochelle, the less I talk about her the better. Oh I kid, all they characters that Brian and Simon created are all kinds of awesome. The big focus is of course the Parker family and they are just one of the most adorable families in existence. Seeing them together kinda reminds me of seeing pictures of Neil Patrick Harris and his family. Look them up! Aren't they adorable too?
Major props to both Bryan and Simon for their teamwork when it comes to the artwork and writing for each comic. There is some much attention to detail to the backgrounds and even the facial expressions. And it also helps when it is backed by some every clever and hilarious dialogue. I also enjoy some well placed easter eggs and references that some of their comics seem to have. The webcomic does have a very Calvin and Hobbes vibe going on, especially when it revolves around an imaginative, sarcastic, and trouble-making boy and his talking animal friend that only he seems to understand. Or maybe he's got Eliza Thornberry powers or something. I'm not quite sure but maybe that's not what matters.
What matters is that the Parker family is really just like every other family. It doesn't make a difference if it's two dads or not, you can tell how much they all love and care for one another, and that's what makes up a family. According to their Patreon page, Bryan and Simon based this series off their own lives and have stated that their goal is to showing straight families that every family is family and to show LGBT youths that they too can have a family of their own. That's why that quote up above is so important. It was stated by a great man who has been a strong supporter of LGBT rights, and the quote speaks for itself; family is family. And the best part about family is that they don't have to be blood and there is always room for more.
There is honestly nothing negative I can say about this series. This series is an absolute joy to read and I highly recommend that everyone should check it out. I heard that they're trying to fund themselves to make an animated series and I hope that happens. I'm eagerly await more great adventures of AJ, Magnus, and their awesome dads. Time for the grading scale!
Positives: Negatives:
-Great artwork & writing -None
-Lovable characters
-Great stories
-Laugh out loud funny
-Absolute fun
Final Grade: A+
Please, please, please check out more of their content. You can find them on Facebook, Tapastic, and even their own website. Also please donate to them on Patreon so they can keep creating more stuff, and even check out some of their items on their website. Links are provide below.
If Brian and Simon are reading this, I wish them a big congratulations for making one of my all time favorite webcomics, right next to Erma! Please keep being awesome and keep doing what you love.
So that's my review of AJ & Magnus. Have you read it? What are your thoughts? Would you like to hang out with the Parker family? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check back again for more amazing reviews here on Prose. And hey, this makes review number 85, which means fifteen more until my 100th review!
Best wishes!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AJandMagnus/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ajandmagnus
Tapastic: https://tapastic.com/episode/311409
Actual Website: https://ajandmagnus.com/