Okay, right off the bat, this comic gave me serious flashbacks. I was a broadcasting major in Orlando, Florida back in the day 
and had three (non-paid!) internships BEFORE I graduated. They never let ME ride in the traffic chopper! BUT I carried a lot of very heavy mid-80s equipment around Disney World in temperatures and humidity in the high 90s. But this review is not about me! Soooo, moving along.
Sophie Cooper is a brand new news intern at the lowest rated television station in Miami, WMIA Channel 7. The station is in the basement, marketwise, dealing with old technology, bad morale, low ratings, no fuel for the chopper and little respect. Sophie proves her worth right away when she offers to get the news anchor a coffee while he’s on the scene of a murder and she finds out some information from the barista that the other stations missed.
The news anchors, Station Manager, Traffic Helicopter Pilot and other journalists are convincingly portrayed as rather self-centered and superficial. (*I* was told as an intern to “not mix with the talent.”) But what is Sophie’s reason for wanting to work at WMIA? Her mom works in the mayor’s office and the school principal tells her she could’ve gotten any number of better placed positions.
Does it have something to do with proving her dad’s innocence? He’s stuck at home with an ankle monitor and up on charges of bank fraud, and the media has been camped out at their house for months. Sophie is ready with her “why” speech, which her principal does not buy. (“Save that for your college application.” HA!) Good thing her brilliant 9-year-old brother Kit creates technology that helps her in her investigations! It makes up for the daily slog of bullying and the snide comments she must deal with from the other kids at school; except for Milo, who wants her to be in his film.
Other strange things are happening at the same time: a man disappears in the Everglades, leaving his shoes and his damaged truck behind and the sheriff can’t find any other evidence of his disappearance. Weird sounds and lights have been coming from the swamp, and Sophie’s investigations run her smack into a weird creepy guy with head trauma eyes, whiny station managers, a weird threatening man dressed like the Secret Service and more weirdness in the swamp! (I won’t say more – it’ll ruin the surprise.)
Even though the adults in this book are somewhat clueless, news anchor “Ritz” (an incorrigible name dropper) teams up with Sophie to solve the mysteries of what is really going on in the Everglades—he’s sure the big “scoop” will save the station. Sophie learns some hard lessons about the news business too. In her naivete, she keeps hurting the people who help her, all because she will sacrifice anything to prove her dad innocent. But is he?
Author Richard Ashley Hamilton must have been an intern too, because his book is too funny for him not to have been. His writing also betrays his age—“My Datsun wouldn’t start!”; the sprinkling of Hall and Oates songs throughout; and the white patent leather loafers Sophie’s school principal wears. His Cuban American heritage shows too through the Spanish scattered throughout the comic and the beautifully depicted South Florida landscape—the Everglades, Miccosukee Village, Hard Rock Cafe Casino and South Beach are all depicted completely realistically. The depicted characters are multicultural. The only annoying thing about the comic is the numerous loose plot threads that are not resolved. The wrap up of the story seems rushed and is not satisfying. I was left wondering about all the plot points that were not answered. The comic is marked as “V.1”, though, so maybe these will be wrapped up further on.
There are no adult situations in this comic, but the light violence, sharp talking and scary situations make it better for the 14 and older crowd. The cover looks like a middle reader, but I would put it in young adult.
Scoop: #BreakingNews  Vol. 1
By Richard Ashley Hamilton
Art by Joseph Cooper
Mad Cave Studios, 2024
ISBN: 9781960578617
NFNT Age Recommendation: Teen (13-16)
