Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Lunch Lady #1)

In this campy graphic novel series debut, Krosoczka ("Punk Farm") introduces Lunch Lady, a scrappy, permed crime fighter with rolled-up sleeves, yellow dishwashing gloves and an apron. Down in the school's boiler room, she and her older sidekick, Betty, test gadgets (like a handheld spatula-helicopter and a banana boomerang) and keep an eye on things. Three childrenHector, Dee and Terrencespeculate about Lunch Lady's after-school life and follow her when she jumps on her moped, in hot pursuit of a suspicious substitute teacher. Krosoczka's plot is somewhat thin: the title and cover illustration announce the trouble with the sub; the only mysteries are the mastermind and motive behind the sub's deployment. Yet Krosoczka crafts Lunch Lady as a tough, capable heroine who deploys such exclamations as Nutritious! and bon mots like Should I serve up some whaaamburgers and cries? when on a robot-destroying tear. With plenty of silliness and slapstick in the text and panel art alike, this comic should alleviate lunch-line boredom with visions of servers wielding fishstick-nunchucks and growling, Today's special is a knuckle sandwich. Also available: "Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians". Ages 710. "(July)" Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.