Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Shawn Hainsworth to bring you this post.
Do you have trouble getting your child to finish a book? As kids get older the books get longer and for the reluctant reader it can be hard to finish one. This is where graphic novels come in handy. Think about it, you have a kid who has always struggled with staying still and you are asking them to sit still and read a novel. Graphic novels are usually full of action and entertaining just like we found comic books when we were younger, but graphic novels are longer than most comic books, so they have more of a plot and count as reading a novel in most schools. For kids who cannot sit still, an action-packed graphic novel is perfect. Today we are sharing one that is great for those kids who need constant motion. The book is Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King created by Darin S. Cape and illustrated by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto. It is recommended for ages 9 and up and there is a giveaway at the end of this post!
About the Book:
Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King Created by Darin S. Cape and Illustrated by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh GabottoAges: 9+ | 160 Pages | Publisher: SHP Comics (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8992749939
Publisher’s Book Summary: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is a fast, funny, manga-inspired graphic novel that blends fantasy adventure with heart, humor, and family appeal. When a cheeky underdog hero is pulled into a world of monsters, doppelgängers, and an army of rats, Zicky must rely on wit, courage, and unlikely friendships to survive. Bursting with kinetic action, playful mischief, and relatable growing pains, Zicky is a perfect gateway to manga for younger readers and a joyful, high-energy adventure for kids, teens, and families alike.
Praise: “Smart, energetic graphic novel blending fantasy and touching real-life emotion. Cape smashes expectations and keeps the pages pleasurably turning, all while grounding the chaotic story in the growing pains of children and the anxieties of the adults raising them.” —Booklife
Purchase Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | SHP Comics
About the Author:
Shawn Hainsworth is the creator and writer, as Darin S. Cape, of Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King. The story began as bedtime adventures he invented for his own children, with Shawn playing the role of Zicky, a super-secret ninja who went on adventures while everyone else was asleep. Those family stories eventually grew into the world of Zicky, a graphic novel celebrating imagination, courage, family, and the hero inside every kid. Shawn lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife, two teens, and two hound dogs. He is the publisher of SHP Comics and is currently working on the sequel, Zicky: The Cursed Blade.
Website | Instagram
About the Illustrators:
Zeno Decrux is an accomplished illustrator and comic artist with over nine years of experience in the international independent comics scene. His work spans a diverse range of comics and manga titles, where he brings a dynamic, expressive style and a strong commitment to quality on every project. Passionate about storytelling through visuals, Zeno continues to push his craft forward with each new collaboration.
Jorge Luis Gabotto, also known as Hiorsh, is an Argentine cartoonist and writer from Mar del Plata. A visual arts teacher, puppeteer, and musician, he brings a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. For him, comics are a fusion of art and literature—a cinematic form that combines movement, atmosphere, and emotion. His work explores themes of love, time, and perception, offering readers a personal and poetic vision of the world.
From Me:
Zicky, or Zachary as his parents call him, is a four-year-old child with a magic ring or binky. It always him to enter a magical world where he is bigger and fights monsters, rat kings and his evil doppelgänger. He tells his family all about his big adventures, but they just think he is very imaginative. He goes on these adventures when he is supposed to be sleeping--nighttime or naptime. His older siblings tease him and are annoyed with his stories. Then one adventure lasts past dawn, and his family thinks he is missing. When his evil doppelgänger, Zocky, shows up instead, they assume it is him but question his weird behavior and hairstyle. Zocky wants the family to leave him alone so he can prepare his rat army to fight so they can bring back all the cheese to their world. The fight is on and in the meantime Zicky is trying to escape the magical world so he can fight Zocky and the rats in his world. It is full of action and drama as well as humor and family times!
I love how the book has a magical part and a non-magical part. Zicky is teased by his older siblings. His teenage brother makes fun of him for still having a binky. His sister finds him just annoying. Yet when he is missing, they worry and try to help find him. Their father is the stay-at-home parent. He watches over Zicky and sends him for naps, outside to play and more. I remember when my own father stayed at home with us for about a year and it was so much fun! He always said it was the best year of his life. Throughout the book there is humor and even a nod to the old Batman television show that adults reading it will enjoy. I also love in the magical world everything is bigger. Zicky grows and is older and so is Zocky and the rats are larger. Part of Zocky's plan is trying to figure out how to get them all bigger in the non-magical world. The Rat King gets rather upset when he keeps killing off the rats with his experiments. I also love that they are fighting over the cheese. Talk about something to fight for and of course it brings in why Zocky has a rat army.
I also love how Zicky considers whether he should keep going to the magical world in fear that someone else could come through the portal. He worries if he doesn't that the Rat King will grow stronger. He even asks his father for advice. His father gives him serious advice even though he thinks it is Zicky's imagination. Throughout the book there is adventure, humor and strong family ties. It has the magic and fighting rats, but it also has messages about treating others, treating animals and how family means so much. I truly think this is a book many kids will love and they will keep wanting to read so they can find out what happens to Zicky and Zocky. I am sure they will also be excited for when the next one comes out!
Giveaway:
