Bandette Volume 1: Presto! by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Dark Horse Comics)

We are always on the hunt for kid-friendly comics with plenty of sass and originality. In fact here's a thing, and it's probably a thing that needs discussing and debating by more fervent comic fans than myself or my lovely daughter. Why is it that we constantly hear grown-up comics being described as "the realm of the male" when in child-friendly comics it's the female characters that are kicking ass, chewing bubblegum and delivering the most delicious one-liners? Think on that for a while.

So Dark Horse - who we have come to know and love, and respect as being the antithesis of DC Comics - have come up trumps with a female master thief called Bandette who breezes through Volume 1 of her adventures like a crimson-hued breath of fresh air.

An expert in stealth, with no fear of heights, and plenty of ardent admirers on both sides of the law, Bandette discovers that a rival criminal organisation has grown tired of her winsome ways and wants Bandette's head on a plate. Eep!

(Don't worry, gross and ugly gangland violence is definitely NOT what you're going to get here, remember this is a child-friendly blog!)

Thankfully the rival gang are so inept that Bandette is able to run rings around them (literally at times!)

Colleen Coover's fabulous kitschy 60s artwork gives you a goodly dose of "Get Smart" with the fabulous groovy vibe of 60s Batman, but at all times Paul Tobin's sass-filled dialogue and classic cheekiness underpins the pacy strips and artwork to perfection.

We are also treated to some trade secrets on how Colleen uses one of my favourite packages - The awesome Manga Studio - to rough out strips and produce final comic art that zings and zips.

You'll have to wait until November the 19th to get your hands on Bandette Volume 1: Presto! but it'll be worth the wait. It's a breath of fresh air, and older kids will love the setting and characters. Younger kids (like Charlotte) will just want to be Bandette and heck, why shouldn't they!

Charlotte's best bit: Bandette's cheeky library antics. Sshhhh!

Daddy's Favourite bit: A brilliant child-friendly strip that shows female characters really can be found in their droves in brilliant graphic novels and comics - if you look beyond the usual tired Marvel and DC dreck.

(Kindly sent to us for review by Dark Horse via NetGalley)