INVASION

Comic Book Characters Come to Life! Really: Events told in comic books are found to have been based on real events and people in this game but improbable series opener. Colt has recently moved in with his World War II–hero grandfather in Arizona following his parents’ sudden death in a suspicious car accident. This neatly lays the groundwork for a light romance with country-music aficionado Lily, but it just so happens that this is also the home of evil Trident Industries! And aliens are trying to take over the earth! Teen heroes Colt, Oz and Dani research the comics for clues on how to proceed against the alien threat rather than ask Colt’s Grandpa, who is the stories’ inspiration and should know. But really, given what narrator Colt is reporting on, logic is not required. Brisk pace, aliens and jet-packs and other cool-but-unlikely gizmos provide appeal if not coherence. Lewis is a veteran of the comic-book industry, and his plot is a domestic read-alike of Alex Rider. Fine for breakneck-adventure addicts but not so wonderful if readers expect real characters and emotion. (Thriller. 10-15)