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The Inscrutable Doctor Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2024
41 people want to read
About the author
Jerzy Drozd
17 books18 followersJerzy Drozd is the author/illustrator of The Front: Rebirth and has worked on Antarctic Press’s Ninja High School as well as projects for Marvel Comics, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, and others. He most recently worked with Dan Mishkin and Ernie Colón on The Warren Report: A Graphic Investigation of the Kennedy Assassination, published by Abrams ComicArts.
He has produced several long-running podcasts including Comics Are Great, Kids Comics Revolution!, Art & Story, Lean into Art and more. He shares his passion for comics by teaching cartooning workshops in libraries and schools and is a co-founder of the annual Kids Read Comics festival. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and two cats.
He continues to make comics at http://comicsaregreat.com
He has produced several long-running podcasts including Comics Are Great, Kids Comics Revolution!, Art & Story, Lean into Art and more. He shares his passion for comics by teaching cartooning workshops in libraries and schools and is a co-founder of the annual Kids Read Comics festival. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife and two cats.
He continues to make comics at http://comicsaregreat.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 20, 2025
88%
I had my doubts about this one, because the cover is so hectic that I couldn't really ascertain what the vibes were, but I'm glad I gave it a shot anyways! I do think that there were too many action scenes, which just don't translate well to still pictures, but the story itself was cute and the character designs were even more so.
I had my doubts about this one, because the cover is so hectic that I couldn't really ascertain what the vibes were, but I'm glad I gave it a shot anyways! I do think that there were too many action scenes, which just don't translate well to still pictures, but the story itself was cute and the character designs were even more so.
January 18, 2025
The artwork for this book was so cute and the world and concept was awesome. However, Doctor Baer himself got pretty overshadowed by the more charismatic characters, particularly in the middle section, so it was kind of hard to latch on to him/his arc through the whole story the way I would have liked. I think I also kind of missed a few important world-building/plot details related to that, though I did kind of put the book down and pick it back up a couple weeks later, so it's possible that it wasn't so much "unresolved mystery" as "me forgetting something", so I won't let that affect my rating. Overall a fun read that would be great for kids. And the werewolf is soooooo cute.
August 29, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher
Doctor Baer, a sentient teddy bear, runs a preserve for cursed magical creatures in the quintessential creepy Victorian mansion that broods under a constantly gloomy and overcast sky. He tries to be a good steward of these artifacts, and also cares deeply for the creatures attached to the relics, serving them foods that they like, giving them a place to roam with others of their kind, and keeping them safe from the forces of evil. He is frequently approached by opportunists like the traveling adventurers, a bear and bird, who want to sell him a werewolf's skull. The house is well guarded against those like Gallus and Wilhelmina, who wish to attack and do harm, but when the bumbling pig pickles, who styles himself a hero, wants to seek Doctor Baer's counsel about a cursed penny, getting his sidekick Taft, a giant tortoise, into the house takes so long that the wards are broken. Spirits escape, and Doctor Baer feels terrible. Pickles, on the other hand, doesn't quite realize the problems he has caused. Some of the elemental magic remains to help, caught in an interesting wand, but the doctor knows that he must retrieve the guardian stone and try to recapture the spirits in order to keep both them and the world safe. He must venture out of his destroyed house to hunt down Gallus. Pickles offers to help, and lacking other support, Baer accepts their offer. This sends the group into a treacherous journey into the Lost City of Terror, to the bottomed of Daemon's Deep, and up the Crags of Everlasting Ice to find fragments of the stone that has safeguarded Baer's menagerie. There are plenty of fights, close calls, and monsters to dispatch on this quest, but also secrets that will be unveiled that change the entire nature of the operation. At the end, what will Doctor Baer's purpose be?
Strengths: This is an ebullient and beautifully illustrated book that is not as grim as the initial pages might forebode. Yes, Doctor Baer is dealing with cursed artifacts, but he is meticulous in his care and trying his best to improve the quality of life of the spirits. Younger readers will love Pickles, since they will see themselves in his brash and impulsive style, and be amused by the parent-like reluctance of Taft to embark on random journeys. There's a well defined quest with many nods to traditional hero's journeys, but I appreciated the twist at the end. I was also glad that Doctor Baer made it home and, like Bilbo Baggins, was able to get a decent cup of tea.
Weaknesses: I loved that the dedication includes a picture of the author at eleven and is for kids who need "what's said in these pages". Because of this, I tried to find some deep message and rather failed, no doubt because I am not actually eleven, and because graphic novels are not my format of choice. It is a purpose that I wish more authors would embrace, although in order to fill the needs of all of my students, I need more people who were nonreaders as tweens become authors!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want an epic fantasy in graphic novel format, like Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo: The Road to Epoli, or Camper and Gonzalez' Lowriders in Space trilogy. The author is from the Columbus area and there's a blurb from fellow Ohioan and legendary Bone author, Jeff Smith!
Doctor Baer, a sentient teddy bear, runs a preserve for cursed magical creatures in the quintessential creepy Victorian mansion that broods under a constantly gloomy and overcast sky. He tries to be a good steward of these artifacts, and also cares deeply for the creatures attached to the relics, serving them foods that they like, giving them a place to roam with others of their kind, and keeping them safe from the forces of evil. He is frequently approached by opportunists like the traveling adventurers, a bear and bird, who want to sell him a werewolf's skull. The house is well guarded against those like Gallus and Wilhelmina, who wish to attack and do harm, but when the bumbling pig pickles, who styles himself a hero, wants to seek Doctor Baer's counsel about a cursed penny, getting his sidekick Taft, a giant tortoise, into the house takes so long that the wards are broken. Spirits escape, and Doctor Baer feels terrible. Pickles, on the other hand, doesn't quite realize the problems he has caused. Some of the elemental magic remains to help, caught in an interesting wand, but the doctor knows that he must retrieve the guardian stone and try to recapture the spirits in order to keep both them and the world safe. He must venture out of his destroyed house to hunt down Gallus. Pickles offers to help, and lacking other support, Baer accepts their offer. This sends the group into a treacherous journey into the Lost City of Terror, to the bottomed of Daemon's Deep, and up the Crags of Everlasting Ice to find fragments of the stone that has safeguarded Baer's menagerie. There are plenty of fights, close calls, and monsters to dispatch on this quest, but also secrets that will be unveiled that change the entire nature of the operation. At the end, what will Doctor Baer's purpose be?
Strengths: This is an ebullient and beautifully illustrated book that is not as grim as the initial pages might forebode. Yes, Doctor Baer is dealing with cursed artifacts, but he is meticulous in his care and trying his best to improve the quality of life of the spirits. Younger readers will love Pickles, since they will see themselves in his brash and impulsive style, and be amused by the parent-like reluctance of Taft to embark on random journeys. There's a well defined quest with many nods to traditional hero's journeys, but I appreciated the twist at the end. I was also glad that Doctor Baer made it home and, like Bilbo Baggins, was able to get a decent cup of tea.
Weaknesses: I loved that the dedication includes a picture of the author at eleven and is for kids who need "what's said in these pages". Because of this, I tried to find some deep message and rather failed, no doubt because I am not actually eleven, and because graphic novels are not my format of choice. It is a purpose that I wish more authors would embrace, although in order to fill the needs of all of my students, I need more people who were nonreaders as tweens become authors!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want an epic fantasy in graphic novel format, like Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo: The Road to Epoli, or Camper and Gonzalez' Lowriders in Space trilogy. The author is from the Columbus area and there's a blurb from fellow Ohioan and legendary Bone author, Jeff Smith!
August 19, 2024
I loved the characters so much, but especially Pickles. I'm not always one for the genki character since they can get annoying; but Pickles is just lovable. My favorite moment was when she proudly announces she broke the spell with Hug Magic. All of the dialogue is so expressive. Like you're watching a Saturday morning cartoon.
Getting to know Dr. Baer and the rest of the crew was a blast, and the twist at the climax added a refreshing touch that kept the plot from feeling too familiar. I thought the ending was sweet and was happy with the way it shook out.
Beyond the fun, the story brought to mind how Western societies have stolen religious and cultural artifacts from former colonies, stripping them of their original context, and rewriting their histories. Maybe Dr. Baer will inspire us to right some of those wrongs :)
Getting to know Dr. Baer and the rest of the crew was a blast, and the twist at the climax added a refreshing touch that kept the plot from feeling too familiar. I thought the ending was sweet and was happy with the way it shook out.
Beyond the fun, the story brought to mind how Western societies have stolen religious and cultural artifacts from former colonies, stripping them of their original context, and rewriting their histories. Maybe Dr. Baer will inspire us to right some of those wrongs :)
November 4, 2024
I've been meaning to read this book for a while, and finally got around to do it today. Wish I had done it sooner. Drozd is an amazing artist and thru the pages of this book you can see how much he loves drawing cute animals. Probably as much as he likes monsters and creatures. The book is full of lore of the Doctor's universe, making for a rich fantasy story. But this is not where the book shines the most.
I find that the book does an amazing job trying to show how historical mistakes and wrongdoings can be easily forgotten in exchange for convenient narratives of how good we are as humans (or teddy bears, I guess!), and how those mistakes can only be addressed by leaving our comfort zones and facing them directly.
I try to avoid writing reviews, but I wish more kids could read this book. So here I am.
I find that the book does an amazing job trying to show how historical mistakes and wrongdoings can be easily forgotten in exchange for convenient narratives of how good we are as humans (or teddy bears, I guess!), and how those mistakes can only be addressed by leaving our comfort zones and facing them directly.
I try to avoid writing reviews, but I wish more kids could read this book. So here I am.
November 28, 2024
‘The Inscrutable Dr. Baer and the Case of the Two-Faced Statue’ by Jerzy Drozd is a graphic novel about adventurers and a mysterious doctor that collects and shelters cursed, but dangerous, objects.
Doctor Baer lives in a large house where he shelters and protects cursed creatures. Various adventurers come to him to leave such beings. Pickles and Taft claim to be experienced adventurers, but inadvertently break the wards in the house letting the beings out. Now Doctor Baer must venture out to recollect his menagerie before they fall into the wrong hands, reluctantly allowing Pickles and Taft to tag along.
The characters are all various animals like bears, pigs, tortoises, etc. The story is clever and kept me engaged and I would love to revisit this world. The illustrations are great and young readers who like adventure stories should really like it too.
Doctor Baer lives in a large house where he shelters and protects cursed creatures. Various adventurers come to him to leave such beings. Pickles and Taft claim to be experienced adventurers, but inadvertently break the wards in the house letting the beings out. Now Doctor Baer must venture out to recollect his menagerie before they fall into the wrong hands, reluctantly allowing Pickles and Taft to tag along.
The characters are all various animals like bears, pigs, tortoises, etc. The story is clever and kept me engaged and I would love to revisit this world. The illustrations are great and young readers who like adventure stories should really like it too.
October 13, 2024
A collector of occult and cursed objects is forced to venture outside his home when his collection is dispersed to the far reaches of the world.
Sometimes with graphic novels I’ll skip the description and dive in based purely on art and vibes. Sometimes this gets me in trouble, but sometimes it works out beautifully.
In this case, it means I didn’t realize it was a middle grade graphic novel. I thought it was meant for older audiences but still appropriate for younger readers, which is always a fine accomplishment. Instead Drozd achieves something even rarer – a book designed for middle grade readers that is still absolutely riveting to an adult audience. Definitely recommend, especially if you want a story with themes of self-worth and challenging your own assumptions.
Sometimes with graphic novels I’ll skip the description and dive in based purely on art and vibes. Sometimes this gets me in trouble, but sometimes it works out beautifully.
In this case, it means I didn’t realize it was a middle grade graphic novel. I thought it was meant for older audiences but still appropriate for younger readers, which is always a fine accomplishment. Instead Drozd achieves something even rarer – a book designed for middle grade readers that is still absolutely riveting to an adult audience. Definitely recommend, especially if you want a story with themes of self-worth and challenging your own assumptions.
January 16, 2025
Absolutely loved this!
I love the author’s mind with this story ! Where else can you get a giant tortoise vs horse smackdown? And a laidback, academic bear with various supernatural items in a quaint, little mansion. Think: Pandora’s box but with all the bite taken out of it.
Also, Pickles is the cutest piggy adventurer. She’s got hug magic, y’all. Back up!
Overall, this was so charming, and it resolved its story nicely. I would love to see another book in the series just to see Taft and Pickles, again. Baer's arc and was so good.
Unadulterated pure fun! The cast of characters are hilarious and the message is sweet and wholesome. Please read expeditiously!
I love the author’s mind with this story ! Where else can you get a giant tortoise vs horse smackdown? And a laidback, academic bear with various supernatural items in a quaint, little mansion. Think: Pandora’s box but with all the bite taken out of it.
Also, Pickles is the cutest piggy adventurer. She’s got hug magic, y’all. Back up!
Overall, this was so charming, and it resolved its story nicely. I would love to see another book in the series just to see Taft and Pickles, again. Baer's arc and was so good.
Unadulterated pure fun! The cast of characters are hilarious and the message is sweet and wholesome. Please read expeditiously!
July 16, 2025
For adventurers who have found cursed items, they can take them to Dr. Baer’s mansion. There he carefully calms and stores magical items, allowing the spirits to live with him. But when new explorers Pickles the pig and Taft the tortoise accidentally allow an evil sorcerer to enter the mansion and steal the most powerful artifact in Dr. Baer’s collection, they must now journey with Dr. Baer to return it. Dr. Baer has never left home before, but has studied everything he can in his books. But what if his books are wrong? And what if the artifacts need something different than just storage?
An excellent mid-grade graphic novel about adventuring, cursed objects, sorcery, and the healing power of hugs. This was just really fun overall. Great story and great art.
An excellent mid-grade graphic novel about adventuring, cursed objects, sorcery, and the healing power of hugs. This was just really fun overall. Great story and great art.
October 28, 2024
My favourite stories are the ones that have characters you love and a heartbeat and hope. Dr. Baer’s first adventure is all of that. Characters who I will count as friends for the rest of my days. An incredible world filled with lore, geography, history, and a future. An adventure that carries you through the story in a timeless and breathless way. And a message about community, about who we are, who we choose to be, how much strength there can be in helping people.
I highly recommend this book: expertly crafted heart-felt storytelling magic!
I highly recommend this book: expertly crafted heart-felt storytelling magic!
November 9, 2024
I liked this book a lot. The art, the characters, and the story all worked for me.
It's interesting to watch Doctor Baer struggle with how "collections" tend to be made of items stolen from other cultures. Watching him come to terms with how his use of the objects he collects might not be THE use of those objects seems like a pretty heady subject for a graphic novel, but Drozd handles it well.
It's interesting to watch Doctor Baer struggle with how "collections" tend to be made of items stolen from other cultures. Watching him come to terms with how his use of the objects he collects might not be THE use of those objects seems like a pretty heady subject for a graphic novel, but Drozd handles it well.
October 13, 2024
Adorable Dungeons & Dragons style adventure, for fans of teddy bear stories, quests, fairy tales, and well-meaning, novice adventurers who must rise to the occasion of saving the world and their friends. This book appears to be standalone, but I’d love to see more stories set in this world.
**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**
**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**
August 15, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this graphic novel
This book was a fun engaging read that took you on quite an adventure that I think had an adorable art style, the adventure they go on and the friendship made was lovely to read
3.75 stars
This book was a fun engaging read that took you on quite an adventure that I think had an adorable art style, the adventure they go on and the friendship made was lovely to read
3.75 stars
December 4, 2024
This book was everything. I wish this had been around for me when I was a kid, but I'm grateful that it's here now. Beautiful art, beautiful story, wonderful characters. I hope Doctor Baer has (many) more adventures because I look forward to reading more.
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May 7, 2025I adore the pairing of the super cute main characters with the creepy villains/spirits, and suspect kids will too. On the other hand, the plot feels a bit convoluted and somehow harder to follow than it needed to be.
December 24, 2024
An interesting and chilling adventure! The artwork is amazing.
January 26, 2025
Lots of fun, beautiful art, and a great message about helping others through compassion and empathy
February 15, 2025
A graphic novel adventure with a difference: the novice adventurers are not hapless chumps. They have both courage and power.
March 11, 2025
An interesting, mostly supernatural fantasy adventure featuring a number of talking animals.
June 2, 2025
loved it read it with my 8yo and we had a fantastic time
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews