Jan 28, 2017 07:19 PM
1514 Views
Today comic book heroes and villains are more popular than ever, appearing not only in print but in video games and movies as well. Now fans can learn how to create their own heroes and villains from such successful comic book artists as Gray Morrow of Superman, Frank McLaughlin of Batman, and Frank Springer of Spiderman and Conan the Barbarian. A superhero-mascot appears .more
Gr. 7^-10. The lines between action comics and literature blur in this second adventure featuring the Misfits, an unlikely but likable quartet of teen sleuths. Here, Peter, Jake, Byte, and Mattie attend Bugle Point's annual comic-book convention, highlighted by a preview of comic hero Hyperman's new movie. But at the screening, the film is stolen by Hyperman's nemesis, the Jester, who seems to have jumped straight from the comic's pages. As the four try to help recover the film, a dastardly plot is revealed, with dangerous repercussions. This mystery gently parodies the current comic-book industry and pays affectionate homage to the golden age of comics, when superheroes were truly defenders of the weak and crusaders for justice. Hyperman is a ringer for Superman, illustrating how comic-book heroes change to reflect the times. Delaney obviously knows his stuff, from publishing companies' rivalries, marketing hypes, and artist exploitation to conventions and obsessive collectors. With a great ensemble cast, appealing villains and heroes, and lots of action and surprises, this is an excellent transitional bridge for reluctant readers from comics to novels. Comic-book fans will also enjoy Delaney's references to real-life people and characters in comic history, then and now. -Shelle Rosenfeld
