Part origin story, part therapy session, this high-voltage comedy by Rex (Nothing Rhymes with Orange) pits a supervillain against an inquisitive child. Doctor X-Ray, wearing a lab coat and rocket boots, crashes through the glass atrium of an upscale mall. "Go ahead and run, puny fools!" he taunts. "No one can withstand the power of Doctor X-Ray!" The mall empties--all except for a wide-eyed girl with black pigtails, a stuffed animal, and a red polka-dotted dress. "Why?" she asks, as small children will. Her repetitive query works on Doctor X-Ray like a psychiatrist's prompts, and his plans and disappointments come tumbling out, each answer leading to another "Why?" Black-outlined speech balloons give the spreads a comic-book vibe as stylish art by Keane (Love Is) cut between the two roaming the deserted mall and faded flashbacks to Doctor X-Ray's tortured boyhood ("I put my heart and soul into that yarn store"). At last, exhausted, Doctor X-Ray has a moment of insight: "Look at me--I don't even rule myself." Though the self-analysis sequence is a bit drawn-out, the visual energy and satisfaction of each page's awaiting answer keep this cinema-style romp hurtling forward. Ages 3-5. (Oct.)

Gr 1-3--Superheroes and supervillains are everywhere these days, so it comes as no surprise when a villain known as Dr. X-Ray crashes into a shopping mall to mount his scheme to rule the world. The villain encounters a persistent and inquisitive young girl who responds to Dr. X-Ray's every statement with one question: "Why?" Subjected to the child's relentless questioning, Dr. X-Ray reveals his tragic-yet-silly backstory, questions his role in society, and ultimately reforms his evil ways. All the dialogue is told in comic book-style word balloons, with Dr. X-Ray speaking in bold all-caps and the little girl in a smaller script typeface that emphasizes the cloying nature of her questions. The unnamed child stands out in a red dress with white polka dots, but Dr. X-Ray's simple white coat and black boots can get lost in backgrounds that are either empty and monochromatic or busy and hastily sketched. Dr. X-Ray's flashbacks are tinted various colors, adding some variety to the illustrations. The book's message is that we can incite social change with persistent questioning, but perhaps it only works if we encounter a supervillain who is willing to be introspective and candid during interrogation. VERDICT Parents will appreciate the social message and kids will enjoy a supervillain with a kooky backstory about how much he loves knitting.--Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH