COSMIC COMMANDOS

Could identical twins be less identical? If these two can’t work together, Earth is in trouble!

Jeremy, a little white boy who always wears red, has a pretty stinkish life. His parents are always telling him what to do, and they never buy him toy weapons…even though all his friends have them. His teacher, Ms. Droning, is forever on his case to listen and do his homework. Then there’s Justin, his identical twin, who always wears blue, who’s always walking around with his face being perfect and nerdy. Justin thinks his life is pretty stinkish, too; Jeremy’s always breaking Justin’s toys and trying to get Justin to do his homework, and Jeremy never wants to play together. When a magic ring falls into Jeremy’s hands and grants his wish to live out his favorite video game, "Cosmic Commandos," he battles his way through the real-life levels with maybe a hint or two from Justin (who’s so boring he reads the game manual). But can Jeremy beat the final level and save the world alone? Author/illustrator and comics artist Eliopoulos bases his graphic novel on his own identical twin sons, and the reality of their relationship shines through the sci-fi–light tale with its silly villain (named Skorn) and copious action and plentiful jokes.

Even if the comic versions of Jeremy and Justin don’t have further adventures, readers will look for Eliopoulos’ next venture into kids’ comics with anticipation.