JURASSIC JEFF

High-tech antics animate this third series entry about an alien who lands on Earth and cavorts with dinosaurs.

After a brief, self-aggrandizing recap of the previous books by extraterrestrial visitor Jeff— “I can see the look of utter amazement and awe on your faces”—he recovers his spaceship from under the sea where it was piloted by Trevor the walking trout. The remaining central cast, consisting of Carl, Hungry, Spike, and Dragon, are on the coast, building a sandcastle. It isn’t long before a rescue bot from Jeff’s home planet comes searching for him, along with a ship crewed by his selfish space academy classmates. Will Jeff leave with his colleagues, or can the dino crew bring him back down to Earth? Lepp’s cartooning is the real star of the show, infusing energy and humor into moments big and small, from Nerf gun shootouts to the fate of that sandcastle and a cherry-on-top wordless finale that’s the culmination of a subtle running gag. Lepp makes sure to pack every panel with some sort of punchline, action, or forward momentum, which makes the story flow effortlessly. Contemporary tech and video games are referenced throughout. Cute homages to other media, like The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Alien, The Matrix, and Looney Tunes, will give older readers a chuckle without alienating younger ones; the humor is accessible and inviting.

This lighthearted prehistoric romp is a gift from the past that keeps on giving.