Earl is a young boy with monsters under his bed. Well, not monsters exactly. Dustyn is a living dust bunny who is afraid to leave the protection of underneath the bed. All sorts of terrors lurk out on the open… a pesky beagle, a robot with a mind of his own, and worst of all is an evil spider referred to as the Black Widow in The Attic! Having once lived in the attic, Dustyn knows first hand of the trouble this horrible spider causes. The Black Widow is rumored to have the power manipulate dreams. Dustyn and his chocolate bunny friend-incarnate, along with a homemade robot called X512 have to find a way to stop the sinister arachnid from causing 5 year old Earl to stab his mother in the throat with a kitchen knife. (Yes, you read that right!)
The premise of Underneath Earl’s Bed is almost charming. Most little kids have considered whether there really are monsters under the bed. Earl is completely unaware of the goings-on in his bedroom when he is away. And the dust bunny Dustyn is a vulnerable and relatable character. I would say that he is a great learning opportunity for young readers, but this book is not for young readers. The novel is wordy and the story feels imbalanced. There are several scenes of graphic violence. And throughout the book the dialogue feels inconsistent, likely reflecting the language of the author versus each character’s unique voice. The original cover art is cool. It looks like it got it’s inspiration from Adult Swim.
If you like demented fantasy stories, be sure to check out Underneath Earl’s Bed. Graphic novel readers may also appreciate Cy Hartshorne’s ability to think out a story with a comic-book feel.
