With its combination of comic book–style illustrations and chapter book format, Captain Awesome is sure to attract a following.
Eight-year-old Eugene McGillicudy has just moved to Sunnyview for his father's new job. He will have to start at a new school and make new friends. But is he afraid? No, he's not! Because he is also the superhero known as Captain Awesome! Author Stan Kirby (a pseudonym that pays homage to Marvel creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) takes problems any child will recognize and shows how Captain Awesome tackles them one at a time. He protects his army of action figures and comic books from Queen Stinkypants (aka his baby sister, Molly). And just when Eugene suspects his teacher Ms. Beasley (aka Ms. Beastly) is a "brain-sucker" (how else could she know his name is Eugene McGillicudy?), she lets him take charge of Turbo, the class hamster. But that only invites the wrath of pink-beribboned Meredith Mooney.
George O'Connor opens each chapter with an illustration in Eugene's hand, then peppers the pages with images of scenes from home and school. Eugene's superhero fantasies appear in comics-style graphics; type treatments play up Captain Awesome's signature cry, "MI-TEE!," as well as standbys such as "Bam!" "Pow!" and "Whap!"
Luckily, Eugene discovers Charlie Thomas Jones, a fellow Super Dude comics collector. Together they solve the mystery of Turbo's whereabouts when he goes missing at school. Charlie's secret superpower identity is explored further in Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man. Just the ticket for fans of Captain Underpants. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness