Superfail

October 2, 2017
Having superpowers isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Just ask 12-year-old Marshall Preston, whose crossed eyes shoot laser beams in different directions and pukes on passersby while flying due to motion sickness. He’s a Defective like his telepathic friend Lewis, who can only communicate by vocalizing others’ unspoken thoughts. But when the city is threatened by someone known as the Man with No Name, it’s up to Marshall, Lewis, and other Defectives to save their home. Brunner and Mackay’s underdog tale is part novel, part comic, with the story unfolding through text passages and panel sequences. Marshall’s self-deprecating narration gives the story a sardonic tone reminiscent of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. “I mean, I wanted to look like a superhero but I ended up looking like the Hamburgler,” says Marshall of his mask-and-cape ensemble. Brunner’s caricatures are accented with dull reds, yellows, and blues that feel just right for the idea of second-rate heroics, but the longer narrative sections leave the story feeling unbalanced, hovering uneasily between comic and illustrated novel. Ages 8–12. Agent: Clelia Gore, Martin Literary Management.

October 1, 2017
A less-than-super superhero and his equally awkward friends try to save their town without destroying it.White, 12-year-old Marshall Preston has some incredible superhuman powers that don't mix so well with his regular-human attributes. Laser vision is significantly less than delightful when paired with crossed eyes and poor aim, and the ability to fly becomes a (very!) messy problem when you suffer from severe motion sickness. Marshall dreams of the abilities the kids in the Gifted Powers Program have and of the fame of more typical superhero teams, but he'd rather remain in obscurity than be ridiculed as a "Defective"--kids with powers that don't work quite right. So when he finds a note about an imminent museum heist, Marshall tries doggedly to alert the incredulous authorities, only to reluctantly take on the mission himself when no one believes him. But as a deadlier plot by the sinister Man with No Name surfaces, Marshall finds himself on an unlikely team of Defectives as they fight with all their considerable and ungainly abilities to save the day. Brunner has delivered a story full of quirkiness and self-deprecating humor, and though the panel illustrations don't always work hand in hand with the text, Mackay breathes uproarious life into a delightfully awkward and occasionally gross narrative. The first-person narration seems to want to be voice-over exposition, but rather than complementing the illustrated action and dialogue, it feels like a disruption--disorienting in a book that is already of two minds about being a graphic novel.An entertaining book that seems it would really rather be a cartoon show. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 8-12)

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January 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Marshall wants to be a superhero, but his powers always go wrong. He can shoot lasers from his eyes, but they either miss the target or cause more damage. And when you have severe motion sickness, flying is no fun. Marshall and others like him are referred to as "defectives." But when the villainous Man With No Name tries to destroy the city again, Marshall and The Night Owl, a retired crime fighter, must team up to work with the powers they have, redeem themselves, and save the day. This hybrid of comic book and prose novel features panels with text above or below and is the ideal format for this funny, inspiring tale. The panels are mostly in grayscale with details highlighted in bold colors. While the plot is predictable, the engaging art and the relatable, unlikely heroes, for whom readers will be rooting, make this a crowd pleaser. VERDICT With humor, action, and a strong cast of characters, this title will appeal to fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and anyone looking for a humorous underdog story.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

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