Louie’s Review: Mr Numbervator Comics

Mr Numbervator makes Maths fun again

Mr Numbervator is by far the funniest way to learn and teach Maths to children in the modern day. Its unique blend of quirky characters, hilarious jokes, puns and flawless integration of education gives me hope that finally, finally, Maths can still be fun, engaging and cool in the modern era.

The debut instalment

The debut instalment of Mr Numbervator’s intergalactic adventures is an epic blend of education, intense action and witty humour. My

favourite highlights from this comic include, amongst many others, the dynamic between Mr Numbervator and his motley crew of eager children, the humorous ego and incompetence of the villains, and my personal favourite: the absolutely futile, utterly pathetic efforts of Major Extrema to defeat Mr Numbervator and his crew.

To be brutally honest, Major Extrema should add “Ignoramus” as his last name, because, well, he got stuck on one plus one. Now that is some major, extreme incompetence. Am I right?

The first issue sets the tone really well. It makes the educational content feel like part of the adventure rather than something forced in. The Maths is not just sitting there like a worksheet. It is built into the action, the jokes and the world of the story. That is what makes it work.

The second issue

Mr Numbervator’s second issue, focusing on multiplication and division, picks up immediately where the original left off, with Major Extrema sulking in a massive prison because of his idiocy, his tiny peanut brain and his ego.

As for Mr Numbervator and his motley crew, they are absolutely living the high life, until Major Extrema decides to have either a stroke of genius or stupidity, breaks out of prison, and stops sulking like a fool.

Needless to say, you know the formula. What can you expect from a name like Major Extrema? Certainly not a major extreme threat. More like a major flaw.

Anyway, enough about that low-life fool.

The humour and artwork

The jokes in the second issue are even funnier and more laugh-out-loud than the original. The comic jabs at Major Extrema at every given opportunity. It does not matter if it is his hairstyle, his ego, his dumb face, his stupid looks or his peanut-sized brain. If you want to insult Major Extrema, go ahead. What is he going to do? Sulk in a box?

In short, the second instalment is not only even more hilarious, more cathartic and more laugh-out-loud than the original, but once again, it is not a chore to read. Visually, it is an absolute pleasure to look at. Honestly, Paul and Dean, you have outdone yourselves with this one.

The original set the bar incredibly high, but the sequel is like The Empire Strikes Back: better than the original in every conceivable way.

The educational content

The educational content is also even more woven into the story and worldbuilding than it was in the original. Somehow, despite Major Extrema escaping, the story gets bigger, funnier and stronger. His pea-sized brain may grow to the size of two tiny microscopic peanuts, but by the end, he seems to lose even that.

Miss Euler

Miss Euler is also interesting because she is not just another villain in the background. She seems to enable Major Extrema. If she thinks he is going to improve by being trapped in a box in the endless void of outer space, then she is clearly not helping. Teach him something. Do something productive. Do what Mr Numbervator does and actually make learning fun.

Do not just throw him into an eternal time-out. Come on. Give him some discipline, for goodness’ sake.

So yes, Miss Euler is an enabler. She lets Major Extrema fail, then blames him for failing. That adds another funny layer to the villain side of the story.

Final verdict

In conclusion, the multiplication and division episode is almost perfect. It is funnier, sharper and stronger than the first issue, with even better educational content and even better worldbuilding. But if this is the second instalment, I have to say: the third one knocks even this out of the park.