Superfail (Marshall and the Defectives, 1) - Hardcover

Brunner, Max

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0762462299 ISBN 13: 9780762462292

Publisher: Running Press Kids, 2017

Synopsis

Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets BigHero Six when a group of young but defective superheroes attempt to save the day!

Laser vision isn't so hot when you're cross-eyed, and supersonic flight's a real downer when motion sickness keeps you grounded.

Twelve-year-old Marshall Preston is a Defective--a person with superhuman abilities that are restricted by some very human setbacks. While other kids are recruited to superhero teams, Marshall's stuck in seventh grade with a kid who can run at super speed but can't turn a corner, another with a radioactive peanut allergy that turns him into a swollen Hulk, and a telepath who reads everyone's thoughts out loud.

Defectives like Marshall aren't exactly superhero material, but when he uncovers a plot to destroy one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, Marshall and his less-than-super friends set out to prove that just because you're defective doesn't mean you can't save the day.

With full illustrations throughout and a funny, heartwarming story, Superfail is the perfect book for reluctant young readers and the superhero fan.

About this title

About the Author

Max Brunner began his professional career as lead writer for David World Press's popular web comic, Barbiespawn. He's a hardcore comic book nerd and a debut author. Max lives in Cypress, California.

Dustin Mackay is an animator and story artist for Disney and most recently worked on Planes: Fire & Rescue and Tinkerbell: Legend of the Neverbeast. Dustin lives in Cypress, California.

Reviews

Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Marshall wants to be a superhero, but his powers always go wrong. He can shoot lasers from his eyes, but they either miss the target or cause more damage. And when you have severe motion sickness, flying is no fun. Marshall and others like him are referred to as "defectives." But when the villainous Man With No Name tries to destroy the city again, Marshall and The Night Owl, a retired crime fighter, must team up to work with the powers they have, redeem themselves, and save the day. This hybrid of comic book and prose novel features panels with text above or below and is the ideal format for this funny, inspiring tale. The panels are mostly in grayscale with details highlighted in bold colors. While the plot is predictable, the engaging art and the relatable, unlikely heroes, for whom readers will be rooting, make this a crowd pleaser. VERDICT With humor, action, and a strong cast of characters, this title will appeal to fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and anyone looking for a humorous underdog story.—Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Edition details

• Publisher: Running Press Kids
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0762462299
• ISBN 13: 9780762462292
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Mackay Dustin
• Number of pages: 208