Superhero fans won’t be surprised once, but they’ll laugh many times.
Superhero stories can easily break your heart.
Batman has never found lasting love, and Bruce Banner has never been able to prevent himself from turning into the Hulk. In the third Super Potato graphic novel, the hero has a chance to go back in time and avoid the tragic circumstances that changed him into a potato in the first place. He’s clearly doomed to fail, but he proves that he’s not afraid of a time paradox. A group of scientists gives him access to a device called the small-time machine, teaching readers about the importance of hyphens. But he’s distracted by mutant sewer reptile Archibald the Scaly and by his first ever love interest, Olivia Olson, who, in comic-book tradition, is immediately kidnapped. The artwork is as charmingly eccentric as ever. The characters look like the Rugrats, if the Rugrats had grown up to be superheroes and mad scientists. The new book doesn’t add much diversity to the very white cast, but one of the scientists is a tall black woman. The jokes are slightly better than in the first two books, though, even if the humor relies a bit too much on vomit jokes. No spoilers are required. Super Potato doesn’t change his destiny or get the girl. But “the girl” is snarky enough to make readers love her, too.
Superhero fans won’t be surprised once, but they’ll laugh many times. (Graphic humor. 7-11)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5415-7287-4
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Punk Farm creator Krosoczka breaks out of picture books with this agreeably silly graphic novel for young readers. Classmates Hector, Dee and Terrence have always wondered about the Lunch Lady: What does she do when she’s not making chicken-patty pizza? Tending to her many cats? Taking care of her family? After some amateur sleuthing, the kids discover that their Lunch Lady is out fighting the forces of evil, of course, with her trusty sidekick, Betty. This dynamic duo uncovers a nefarious plot hatched by a villainous teacher to overrun the school with cyborg substitutes. Backed up by Betty’s ingenious arsenal of amalgamated cafeteria utensils including Spatu-copter, Chicken Nugget Bombs and Lunch Tray Laptop, the two are on the case. This graphic novel alternates between boxy, regular panels and full-page spreads, keeping readers’ visual interest piqued. Filled with goofy puns and grayscale art with cheery yellow accents, this is a delightfully fun escapist read. Be sure to recommend this to fans of Captain Underpants. Publishes simultaneously with Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (ISBN: 978-0-375-94684-4; paper 978-0-375-84684-7). (Graphic fiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 28, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-375-84683-0
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2009
Taking child spoilage to a whole new level, six-year-old King Ethelbert performs some world-class acting out in these 12 graphic-format misadventures. With no parents around to say him nay, Ethelbert takes great delight in watching all of the grownups scrambling to deliver whatever he demands, from an elephant-sized sundae to having all of the children in the kingdom replaced with robot replicas of him. Not only, though, do his notions rarely turn out quite as planned, but those grownups are smart enough to outmaneuver him at need—and even deliver a few counter-pranks of their own. Though the small pictures and truly tiny typeface will challenge all but the most acute eyes, the retro ’60s-style art perfectly conveys the slapstick action and sly tone of this import. Calvin and Hobbes fans will be particularly delighted. (Graphic fiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: May 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-59643-094-5
Page Count: 128
Publisher: First Second/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2007
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