The animated shows of the 1980s were memorable... but not always for the best reasons. Whether they were part of early morning Saturday television — a veritable "prime time" for viewing for millions of American children — or syndicated shows that aired after school, animated television was a pop culture staple throughout the decade.  

The animation was hand-produced, making it appear primitive by today’s standards, but also giving it a charmingly crude aesthetic. Often shows served as marketing tie-ins to toy lines, with Transformers and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe being prime examples. As such, storylines were as much about selling action figures as they were about entertaining young audiences and unfolded with simple, formulaic plots that were both familiar and comforting. And perhaps their simplicity was part of their appeal? After all, it didn't take much effort to follow your favorite shows each week — and there was never any ambiguity as to who was going to come out on top. No matter what dastardly scheme Mumm-ra came up with, we always knew Lion-O and the other ThunderCats were going to save the day. 

Invariably, the heroes of 80s animation were children, teenagers or very young adults and were usually pitted against adult villains. With a heavy emphasis on action, adventure, and fantasy, these shows left an indelible mark on an entire generation, shaping childhoods with their imaginative worlds and ultimately influencing movies, television, comics and books up to the present day. 

In fact, of all the ridiculousness that came out of the 80s, these franchises had remarkable staying power. (Consider the live-action Masters of the Universe movie currently under production and starring Nicholas Galitzine!) This is even more remarkable if you consider that most of these shows were only on the air for a few years! Yet today, I can't walk into a bookstore or comic book store without easily finding some rehash of a show I first watched 40+ years ago. As such, I thought it would be fun to collect some of the more current book and graphic novel titles together. 

RELATED FEATURES: Pop Culture Contributions of the 1990s  |  The Golden Age of Movie Novelizations  |  Writing the 1980s Arcade Experience  |  The Timelessness of Serial Storytelling

Here be spoilers...

Based on my experiences as a foster parent, it's hard for me to read books that deal with either child abuse or missing children. Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley is a book about the latter. 

If you haven't been in that situation, it's hard to imagine how horrible it is to have someone you love just vanish — whether it's voluntarily or involuntary. You go to bed every night wondering where they are; and despite your best efforts when you're lying awake at 2 a.m. trying to remain positive, the very worst thoughts still manage to creep in. The missing child's parents, siblings and friends all cycle through the different stages of grief without ever having a body to grieve over. 

In the case of Where Things Come Back, the missing person is 15-year-old Gabriel Witter, who one day vanishes from his small Arkansas town. The story's told from the point of view of Gabriel's older brother, Cullen, whose anguish about his brother is juxtaposed against the town's fervor over the rumor that the Lazarus woodpecker, a bird previously thought extinct, has been discovered living in the woods nearby. The tale of the woodpecker, of vanished Gabriel, and of two disillusioned young men obsessed with an obscure biblical mystery all blend together as the story progresses. (Trust me, it makes sense as you read on...) Cullen comes to resent the search for the bird (if it actually exists), which appears to be garnering more interest and public resources than that of his missing brother. The young Christians, Benton Sage and Cabbot Searcy, whose tale is told in third person, are equally disillusioned by the belief that humankind's destiny was subverted by God. As you can probably guess from the names of the characters and the bird, biblical lore plays a huge role in the book's main theme about how blind faith can drive people to madness.

​I'm not a fast reader, but I tore through this book pretty quickly, caught up in the mystery behind Gabriel's disappearance and anxious to know how it all turned out. It's the sign of a good author when he can actually invoke the same emotions in the reader as he's displaying in his characters, and in this respect Where Things Come Back performs brilliantly. 

I enjoyed the parts of the book told from Cullen's perspective more than the third-person narrative about Benton and Cabbot, mostly because the latter began to read like a dissertation after a while, propelling the story forward but without the same passion. Part of Cullen's appeal is he sounds and acts like an authentic teenager. His affection for his brother is credible and compelling, not an easy trick since Gabriel's missing through most of the story. Although Cullen's the older brother, he admits that Gabriel's more responsible, more interesting, and frankly, more cool than he. And he says this without a trace of resentment. It's a refreshing change from how most teenage siblings are depicted in young adult fiction, their relationships often characterized by resentment and one-upmanship. 

Some readers of Where Things Come Back were upset with the story's ambiguous ending. Actually, this didn't bother me. Stories about missing children are often ambiguous in real life — people go missing and nobody ever knows what happened to them. But if I had one problem with the ending, it was that it seemed abrupt, as though certain other plot elements were dropped without being fully explained. Still, it was an enjoyable read which I highly recommend if you don't find the subject matter too disturbing. Better for ages fourteen and up, I think.

If you're in search of an enthralling graphic novel that seamlessly blends mystery, romance, and the supernatural, look no further than Summer Shadows, published by Dark Horse Comics. The story revolves around Nick Landry, a young gay man from the UK, who embarks on a journey to the fictional Greek island of Avraxos in search of his ex-boyfriend, Anthony. Their unexpected breakup has left Nick in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to move on. Driven by a cryptic letter from Anthony, Nick is convinced that his ex is in dire trouble, setting the stage for a gripping adventure on the sun-drenched beaches of the Mediterranean. 

As the plot thickens, we meet Alekos Kourkoulos, a Greek coast guard officer with his own agenda—finding a missing vacationer. When their paths intersect, Nick and Alekos realize that both missing person cases are linked to a mysterious black yacht anchored offshore. Rumored to belong to someone with immense wealth, the yacht holds a status akin to diplomatic immunity, leaving Alekos's law enforcement contacts puzzled and unable to act. This twist of fate pulls Nick further into a web of intrigue and danger.

The island locals add another layer to the narrative, warning Nick to leave before it’s too late, hinting at an unnamed terror. Meanwhile, others seem to be in the thrall of the yacht's enigmatic owner, Hylas—a impossibly handsome and strangely charismatic figure. Hylas's minions procure young men for extravagant parties aboard the yacht, filled with drugs, alcohol, and hedonistic pleasures. Despite forming a physical relationship with Alekos, Nick remains emotionally tethered to Anthony. Things take a darker turn when Nick becomes convinced he spots Anthony at one of these infamous parties, adding urgency to his quest.

The story reaches its crescendo when Nick receives an invitation to Hylas's infamous "Festival of the Blood Moon" on a secluded, private island. Veronica, Hylas's personal assistant, reveals to Nick the unimaginable truth: they are vampires, Anthony is one of them, and the festival is a trap. Despite her allegiance to Hylas, Veronica shows compassion for Nick’s heartbreak, urging him to leave. Undeterred, Nick devises a plan with Alekos and supportive locals to escape the island with Anthony. The Festival of the Blood Moon turns into a nightmare, with human guests falling victim to the vampires. Thanks to Veronica's aid, Nick escapes, but not before a chilling confrontation with the undead Anthony. 

Summer Shadows is a well-crafted comic book series with rich characterizations and engaging dialogue that draw readers into its world. The interconnected subplots and backstories add depth and intrigue, while the readers' sympathy for Nick’s broken heart is palpable, even as they wish he’d see the truth sooner. Set against the enchanting backdrop of the Greek Isles, the novel weaves together the romance of ancient myth with the stark realities of the super-rich and powerful. Ricardo Cabral's pen and ink drawings, coupled with bold color schemes, provide a stylish aesthetic perfect for a vampire tale. While the book concludes with a satisfying ending, future encounters with Hylas and his coven are upcoming as Summer Shadows is part of an ongoing series.

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