- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–11
- Fantasy
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
Book 2 of 3 in Mighty JackView the full series
A higher-stakes sequel that sends Jack deeper into the goblin world to rescue Maddy. It is still visually accessible and creature-filled, but more quest-driven and emotionally urgent than book one.
- Best for7–11
- FormatGraphic
- Length208 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr40 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Funny
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Maddy has been taken into a strange world beyond the garden, and Jack is determined to bring his sister home. With Lilly and help from the unexpected Goblin King, Jack is pulled into a larger and more dangerous adventure filled with monsters, strange kingdoms, fierce battles and revelations about what Maddy may be capable of. This second Mighty Jack book pushes the first volume's magical-garden premise into a broader fantasy quest, giving the story more urgency and a larger mythic shape. The Jack-and-the-Beanstalk roots are still visible, but Ben Hatke's world now feels stranger and more personal, especially because Jack's protective love for Maddy drives the action. The graphic storytelling remains clear, funny and page-turning, but the peril is stronger, with enough intensity that sensitive readers may need reassurance. It is best read after Mighty Jack.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 7–11
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: scary imagery, violence, illness or disability.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
4 / 5 · Notable
Best for
- Fantasy quest
- Sibling rescue
- Graphic novel fantasy
- Zita next read
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Has not read mighty jack
- Very sensitive to monsters
- Needs low peril
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Neurodiversity or learning differences
- Anxiety and worry
- Illness in family
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A thrilling fantasy-adventure comic series — a reluctant-reader favourite and classroom-library staple.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific weight is Jack having to follow Maddy in — sister taken into the goblin world, Jack and Lilly chasing after her with help from the Goblin King himself, the magical-garden premise opening into proper quest territory. The Mighty Jack where the stakes catch up with the danger.
- Adventure and freedom
- Family belonging
- Making a difference
- Surviving danger
- The underdog winning
Why parents love it
The Mighty Jack sequel — rescue-the-sister quest, goblin kingdom, more peril than book one. Best read after the first. Sensitive readers may need reassurance; the intensity is real. Strong continuation.
- Conversation starter
- Quick to read
- Beautiful illustrations
- Indie gem discovery
In the series
Mighty Jack.
3 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Ben Hatke.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
When you buy through the links above, we may earn a small commission — it never costs you more, and it never changes the books we choose. How we’re funded →