Angel Catbird (2016), Volume 2

February 1, 2017

Lauded novelist Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale) emerges from the dystopias of her stories to pen a ridiculously amusing superhero tale. Brilliant genetic engineer Strig Feleedus yearns to impress his new boss by working out that DNA supersplicer formula he wanted, but an accident with the compound turns Strig into a human/cat/owl hybrid. However, bossman Dr. Muroid is no pureblood either and is out to rule the world. (Hint: Muroidea is a taxonomic superfamily of rodents.) Fortunately, Strig finds allies and romance among other hybrid creatures while confronting lifestyle dilemmas: should he rescue that lost baby bird, or eat it? When Muroid destroys the half-cats' nightclub, Count Catula invites them to his castle, but alas, the mad half-rat cleverly intervenes. Throughout, sidebars intersperse chatty guidelines about cat and bird safety, while puns and literary allusions abound. Christmas (Sheltered) excels especially with the jaunty and artful hybrids, and Muroid's rat army oozes comical malevolence. VERDICT This rollicking satire contains messages about finding your own tribe, and will appeal to teens and adults of many social stripes. Note droll byplay about multispecies libidos. The concluding volume is due out in July.--MC

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-This volume continues the bizarre tale of Strig, a man who accidentally turned into an owl/cat/man hybrid. His allies, cats and birds-who don't usually get along-are forced to support one another to defeat a mad scientist who wants rats to take over the world. The narrative is injected with comedy, with various characters making sarcastic asides and the mad scientist frequently making exclamations such as "SQUEE-HEE-HEE!!!" The narrative is reminiscent of a classic superhero comic, with a mix of action, humor, and a ridiculous world domination plot. As in the previous volume, the artwork is filled with color and life and will attract plenty of readers. However, the inclusion of information and website links related to topics such as cat declawing and bird extinctions, usually connected to a relevant plot point, is distracting and tends to interrupt the narrative, making the book feel less like a story and more like a lesson. VERDICT An educational offering about a unique superhero; for larger graphic novel collections or those with fans of the first installment.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.