Mister Invincible: Local Hero

Jousselin takes full advantage of the comics format to introduce Mr. Invincible--"the one and only true comic book superhero!"--who utilizes "the incredible magic of comics" in his heroics. Jumping between panels to affect a story line's previous and future moments ("Time is space, and space is time"), the yellow-clad superhero considers no job too small, whether saving a cat (reaching down a panel to pluck it out of a treetop), confronting killer robots (bashing them with a mop through surrounding panels), or picking up a baguette for his grandmother (sending a note at the end of the strip to himself at the beginning). Single-page shorts, interspersed with longer tales, constitute most of this collection and serve to show all the ways Mr. Invincible creates an oft lighthearted meta narrative. Told in an art style reminiscent of Sunday comic strips and heavily rooted in visual gags, the vignettes aptly work outside the traditional box--er, panel--to explore a range of themes, including the value of hard work (Mr. Invincible learns early on in life not to use his powers to cheat), the dangers of corporate greed (a CEO embraces pollution to gain money and power), and the consequences of amassing military power (the U.S. attempts to weaponize a hero). Mr. Invincible, grounded and irreverent of his status as a major superhero, exudes infectious charm as he inspires those around him. Ages 9-12. (Aug.)

Gr 3-5--Masked superhero Mister Invincible tries to live a mundane life but often gets drawn into crime-fighting escapades. Cleverly, and often paradoxically, Mister Invincible breaks the fourth wall to outmaneuver wrongdoers and solve problems--in one tale, he saves himself from being shot by crossing panels to future scenes, where he disarms the gunman. Jousselin's collection, translated from French, has an innocent, old-fashioned, episodic feel, despite featuring modern technologies. With 30-plus entries, it contains both single- and multipage stories that touch upon quotidian issues like running out of bread as well as more complex but age-appropriate story lines that explore the power of words, military weaponry, and empathy. The one-page stories are quick and can be read individually and easily paced through multiple sittings, while the longer tales--in which their shorter companions are nested--either build upon themselves or reference previous longer installments. Many contain cartoon violence, complete with emanata. With the exception of one story that features visually loud 1990s neon-colored pixelated backgrounds, the book is dominated by a subdued beige and soft, creamy orange color base, with a mossy green and cornflower blue used to depict the minimalist nature around Mister Invincible. Character features tend to be exaggerated. Though there is a diversity of body types, racial representation is lacking. Most characters, including Mister Invincible, are white, with the noticeable exception of the Black president of the United States. VERDICT This mind-bending and fun escape from the confines of reality will entice readers looking for a collection with a hint of newspaper comics nostalgia.--Alea Perez, Elmhurst P.L., IL