Jackson’s Wilder Adventures, Vol. 1: Habits & Habitats by Sarah Davidson

Jackson Wilder is an adorable little boy who lives with his dad and his beloved stuffed thylacine doll, Irwin. In the manner of all imaginative kids with a constant stuffie companion, Irwin often takes on a life of his own in Jackson’s imagination, as Sarah Davidson depicts in a way that will definitely bring up positive comparisons to Bill Watterson’s seminal Calvin & Hobbes series.

The main difference between the two comics, however, is the focus here on animal facts, biological and ecological. Stringently fact-checked by wildlife ecologist Kelly I Zimmerman, this book puts a delightful educational spin on the everyday comedy of an imaginative young kid’s life, with Irwin being Jackson’s guide to all the different animals of the world.

And there are a lot of animals under discussion here, precipitated first by Jackson refusing to eat the suspicious-looking mystery casserole his dad whips up for dinner. Irwin, ofc, has no problem downing a portion, then cheerfully shows Jackson all the much grosser things animals around the world routinely feast on. The friends travel from the Faroe Islands to Puerto Rico to Nebraska, before Jackson finally agrees to come home and try the mystery casserole.

Their next adventure flows seamlessly from this one, as Jackson deals with the stresses of moving to a different home. Irwin once more comes to the rescue, taking Jackson on a trip first to the African savannah, then to the Pantanal and finally to the North Pole, all environments where animals are being forced to move into shrinking spaces under far worse circumstances than Jackson is. This part of the book admittedly feels a bit more like a “children starving in Africa” admonishment than, ironically, the first part, but it’s still a very effective look at and way to sympathize with animals whose habitats are being seriously encroached upon by human choices.

So far so entertaining, with some really great jokes peppering the narrative and adorable illustrations throughout. The activity pages that punctuate each animal segment are also excellent value for kids who want to be more interactive with their books. But the thing that will really keep me coming back to read these comics even as an adult reader — and purchaser of books for my kids — is the cleverly devised mystery of the background plot. Jackson lives alone with his dad, who is clearly trying his best but seems to be coping with providing meals. They’re also in the process of moving, most likely downsizing from a house to an apartment. Why is this? I am incurably nosy and want to know!

This was a really impressive graphic novel series debut that melds the whimsy of Watterson with solid educational and non-reading entertainment value. I’m really looking forward to experiencing more!

Jackson’s Wilder Adventures, Vol. 1: Habits & Habitats by Sarah Davidson was published July 16 2024 by Papercutz and is available from all good booksellers, including