Goofballs in Paradise

June 1, 2007
Gr 2-4 -Fighting supervillains is a demanding and eventful lifestyle, but as Amazing Techno Dude and his grandmother discover, it doesn't pay the bills. So, Bodacious Backwards Woman decides to advertise for some super-roommates. Unfortunately, 1313 Thirteenth Street isn't exactly the Batcave, and the ad attracts a flock of decidedly subpar heroesamong them Mighty Tighty Whitey (a walking pair of jockey shortssize extra small), Wonder Boulder (a flying rock in a cape), the Impossibly Tough Two-Headed Infant, Super Vacation Man, and mixed-up canine Blunder Mutt. At first, the housemates are hopeless in the hero department, but gradually they slowly begin to blend their wacky talents to defeat evildoers. Their first adventure pits them against two odoriferous foesinsane stinkbug Queen Smellina and her smelly sidekick Fabian the Flatulent Fiendwho plan to take over the world with super-stench. The second episode takes the Goofballs to a tropical beach resort where the world's crabbiest crook, Mondo Grumpo, is plotting to transform the population into zombie Numbness Nincompoops by eliminating laughter and fun. These stories have less gross-out and body-function humor than the "Captain Underpants" books (Scholastic), but they can't match the controlled absurdity of Dav Pilkey's iconic scatterbrained superhero. Hannan's wild-eyed, exaggerated black-and-white cartoons are reminiscent of his animated Nickelodeon seriesCatdog . There is some amusing dialogue, especially Granny's bodacious backwards talk, but the total package is more silly than super.Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

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