Publishers Weekly

His name is Max Hamm, and he's the private gumshoe hired to dig out answers from the seedy underbelly of Storybookland in this charming, lavishly illustrated pastiche of the hard-boiled genre and nursery rhymes. A diminutive porcine Mike Hammer, Max is more than able to handle the plethora of tough guys and sizzling, deceptive broads who cross his path. In "The Big Sheep" Hamm investigates the suspicious demise of his partner, Humpty Dumpty, and discovers a web of intrigue involving Bo Peep, Mother Goose, Little Boy Blue and a flock of extremely disgruntled sheep. In the longer "The Long Ever After" Hamm is hired by old flame Snow White to discover the identity of the owner of a lost glass slipper. Tragic romance, sleazy extramarital shenanigans, shocking family secrets and a galaxy of tarnished storybook stars collide in this tightly written yarn. Cammuso's artwork expertly straddles the line between stark black-and-white comics art and lush animation-influenced wash illustrations akin to those found in children's books. Though it travels well-worn territory, this clever mix is solid entertainment and the Little Golden Book–inspired format is just icing on the cake.

*

School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–In this throwback to the pulp-novels and film-noir era, porcine detective Max Hamm is a combination of Sam Spade and Porky Pig. In the first story, The Big Sheep, he unearths scandal and deceit involving the murder of his partner, Humpty Dumpty. The Long Ever After is a carefully woven tale of intrigue surrounding Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. The characters communicate in pun-filled dialogue that works well with the story, and is not overdone. Typical graphic-novel panels alternate with a layout more typically found in picture books, a convention Cammuso employs to bring a solid juxtaposition of text and illustration to the book. Many fairy tales are referenced, and the concept of combining them with this setting results in a truly enjoyable plot. Readers of both comics and graphic novels will relish this volume.

*

Ain't it Cool News

"Max Hamm is Brilliant"

*

Comic Buyers Guide

"A jewel from start to finish"