This first collected paperback of Larry Gonick’s broad-strokes introduction to human history features the initial seven volumes of the series, covering the Big Bang, evolutionary history of life on Earth, the beginnings of human history from early hominids to the creation of agriculture, and the rise and fall of the Sumerian, Egyptian, biblical Hebrew, Persian, and Classical Greek civilizations.

The stories presented within are brought to life through Gonick’s approachable, easy-to-read cartooning style and sense of humor. This friendliness and engagement factor make it easy for the series to grab and hold the attention of young readers, and Gonick does an excellent job of bringing distant historical events to life. Ideal for early teen and sophisticated tween readers. Parents should be aware that the series does not shy away from harsh historical facts and includes (cartoony) depictions of nudity, gore, and adult topics. Parental oversight and discretion are advised!

The series is best enjoyed as an introduction to history, a way to familiarize young readers with major historical facts and characters. Due to the comic book format and the scope of the project, most of the history is very abbreviated and simplified to fit in the space available. Also, because the first collected volume was originally written from the late 1970s through the 80s, some ideas and information (especially on early human evolution and some biblical history) are now considered out of date and inaccurate. — Aaron Svarlien