Mega Robo Bros

When not fighting over comics, brothers Alex and Freddy attempt to have an ordinary childhood in a future London. But, because they are sentient robots, normality escapes them: whether they are visiting the museum or attending a royal birthday celebration, they inevitably end up fighting evil robots run amok. Their adoptive parents want to keep things quiet, but secrecy becomes increasingly impossible with each incident. Eventually, older brother Alex is drafted into RAID, a military robot team, in an attempt to capture Robot 23, who seems obsessed with the brothers. Cameron delivers an energized and goofy romp featuring siblings whose relationship is equal parts bickering, rivalry, and camaraderie--just like that of many human brothers. The action is balanced with a good dose of humor, as when Freddy rescues a trio of animal droids only to get stuck dealing with an ape that speaks French, a barking triceratops, and a penguin that only quotes Sartre. The vivid colors capture the optimistic and light mood of the SF adventure, which features a diverse cast and lots of quippy banter. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Gr 4-6--Robot brothers Alex and Freddy Sharma live in a futuristic London with their adoptive human parents. While the siblings are close, they often bicker and have a hard time staying out of trouble. They are superstrong and fast, but their parents, especially their scientist mother, insist on keeping their powers secret for as long as possible. An evil robot, built in the same mysterious facility as Alex and Freddy, starts wreaking havoc, and Alex, the oldest, is recruited by his mother's company to fight. Though goofy Freddy is less mature than his big brother, the two must work together to save the day. This tale immerses readers in a fascinating world filled with flying double decker buses, robotic dinosaurs and palace guards, a philosophical penguin, and a diverse human cast of characters. Yellow, purple, and blue background colors are striking. Alex and Freddy are distinguished by the coloring of their robotic heads and their facial expressions, as well as by their height and personality differences. The small font of the speech bubble text may take readers a few pages to get used to, but fun characters and a compelling story will keep them engaged. VERDICT A solid addition to middle grade graphic novel collections.--Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ