Mischief and Mayhem

Meet Missy and Gizmo, a bookish young girl and her trusty cat sidekick, stars of this graphic novel. Missy loves science and building gadgets while searching for fun and excitement in the ho-hum town of Idleville. Hungry for adventure, Missy and Gizmo join a superhero boot camp and befriend a group known as the "League of Heroes" -- only to be kicked out after activating a robot that wreaks destruction. Shifting to a life of mischief, the disheartened duo masquerades as supervillains Mischief and Mayhem, committing pranks such as stealing toilet paper and revealing spoilers at movie theaters. Amidst their zany exploits, a devious mastermind emerges, with intentions to rid the world of all things super. In his debut graphic novel, packed with thrills and quirky humor, Lamug has created characters whose personalities burst with energy. Individual panels capture their vibrant personas through animated facial expressions. Shaded hues of pink, purple, and gray rendered against the violet backdrop of the city enliven the mood. This fast-paced story breathes life into a young, inventive female character who learns that sometimes the greatest powers lie within. Jerry Dear July/August 2021 p.117(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

First exploits of a would-be superhero and her doughty side-cat. Missy Go's mother works outside the home and supports the family financially while her father runs the household. Rafi, her little brother who is adopted, is a straight-A student, unlike Missy. Afflicted with a mischievous streak but yearning to be a superhero, young gadgeteer Missy and her orange tabby cat Gizmo hie off to superhero boot camp--where, alas, she falls in with fellow camper Melvira, who uses her superpowers (or does she?) to make Missy think she's a good friend, gets them both kicked out, and persuades her that it's more fun to be a villain. The two have very different ideas about what constitutes villainy, though, and when pranks like stealing all the toilet paper in town don't float her boat, Melvira trots out both a giant robot and a weapon that sucks the powers out of superheroes. At this, Missy, suited up as "Mischief," with costumed kitty "Mayhem" attending, reluctantly switches sides. Framed mostly as a flashback, the action hurtles along through irregular panels of hyperkinetic cartoon action and snarky banter to a climactic face-off featuring epic robot battles, lots of slime and toilet paper, and, at the end, drawing lessons and space to create your own characters. Missy and her parents appear Asian; Rafi reads as Black, and the supporting cast is broadly diverse. A rousing kickoff for the Captain Underpants crowd. (Graphic fantasy. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.