The 90s classic gets a gritty face-lift
If you grew up in the 90s, you remember the covers: a kid mid-transition into a lobster or a hawk, looking deeply uncomfortable. It was easy to dismiss as a gimmick, but the series was always secretly a war story. This 2020 graphic novel adaptation by Chris Grine doesn't just lean into that; it highlights it.
The art is vibrant and modern, but it doesn't sanitize the "weird things" the synopsis promises. When these kids morph, it’s visceral. Bones crack, skin stretches, and the result is a visual style that feels urgent. It captures that specific brand of "middle-grade horror" that kids in the 8-to-12 bracket absolutely crave—the kind of story that treats them like they're old enough to handle the stakes.
Not your average animal story
Most media featuring kids and animals is about friendship or rescue. This is about survival. The core conflict—a silent alien invasion where you can't tell who is a friend and who is an "invader"—is pure paranoia-fueled sci-fi.
If your kid has already read The One and Only Ivan: A Parent's Guide to Katherine Applegate's Heartfelt Story, they might be expecting the same gentle, contemplative tone. They won't find it here. While both works share a deep empathy for the animal perspective, Animorphs is the high-octane, high-stakes sibling. It’s less about the beauty of nature and more about using the lethality of nature to fight a guerilla war. It asks a heavy question: what happens to your head when you're a thirteen-year-old forced to act like a soldier?
Why the graphic novel works now
The original series ran for over 50 books, which is a massive "ask" for a modern reader. This graphic novel format is the perfect entry point. It condenses the plot without losing the character beats that made the original a cult classic.
- Jake isn't a fearless leader; he's a kid who feels the weight of every decision.
- Marco uses humor as a literal shield against the terror of their situation.
- Cassie struggles with the morality of the violence they're forced into.
These aren't superheroes; they’re scared kids with a clock ticking against them. The 2020 reboot respects that legacy. It’s a great pick for the kid who finished Wings of Fire or Warrior Cats and wants something with a bit more edge and a faster pace.
The "I'm Googling this later" moment
After finishing the first volume, your kid is probably going to ask about the "Yeerks" (the brain-controlling slugs) and whether the kids ever get to go back to being normal. They’ll likely want to know if the rest of the series is coming out in this format. The answer is a resounding yes, and the momentum only builds from here.
This isn't a book you buy to teach a lesson. You buy it because it’s a thrill ride that happens to have a soul. It’s the kind of series that turns "reluctant readers" into "obsessive fans" because it actually trusts them to keep up with a complicated, dark, and wildly imaginative world.
