(4) 4-6 Sci-Fi Junior High series. Kelvin Klosmo, the non-genius son of genius scientists, returns for his second adventure on a space station. Kelvin and his extraterrestrial friends are again charged with saving the universe without getting any credit for it. Flat characters are offset by nonstop action and humor; cartoon illustrations appear on nearly every page, and a variety of fonts and thumbnail drawings designate who is speaking.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(4) 4-6 Kelvin Klosmo is starting a new school with more than the usual jitters. His parents are genius scientists, his family just moved to a galactic space station, his school is full of extraterrestrial creatures, and an evil scientist is trying to rule the universe. Two-dimensional characters weaken the story, but spot illustrations of characters clarify the action and dialogue, and copious comics sections add humor.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Vordak the Incomprehensible series. Illustrated by John Martin. Arrogant, pompous, clueless supervillain Vordak travels back in time to extinguish Commander Virtue's chances of ever becoming his arch-nemesis. A cast of evil, or just plain unhelpful, sidekick villains thwart Vordak's efforts. Humorous cartoon illustrations accompany the absurdly snarky direct-address narration. Vordak's true fans will enjoy this fourth series entry.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Vordak the Incomprehensible series. Illustrated by John Martin. In his third volume, supervillain Vordak's latest attempt to rule the world involves cloning himself an heir to help rule his evil empire, but it turns out neither is evil enough to succeed. The story's single-note joke is successful, bulked up by humorous drawings, faux screenshots, and newspaper articles, as well as narrative asides that break the fourth wall.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Vordak the Incomprehensible series. Illustrated by John Martin. Vordak returns in all his pompous, failed-supervillain glory. A miscalculation with his Abominable Age-Reduction Ray lands Vordak back in middle school, where he plots against Commander Virtue and almost makes friends. Humorous cartoon illustrations offset Vordak's absurdly grandiose (and generally oblivious) narration. It's a one-note joke, but the author and artist capably finesse that note to the utmost.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Vordak the Incomprehensible series. Illustrated by John Martin. Arch-villain Vordak the Incomprehensible leads readers through a detailed tutorial of how to take over the world. Vordak's sarcastic and dismissive tone will greatly amuse youngsters familiar with the superhero genre. There's no narrative, but readers will gladly stick with it to the end, hoping Vordak will hand over the world to them for finishing.

Reviewer: David Elzey